FTA Announces Proposed Buy America Waiver for Electric Minibuses

FTA proposes issuing a phased three-year general waiver of its Buy America rolling stock requirements for certain battery-electric minibuses used in public transportation, due to the unavailability of compliant vehicles in the marketplace. This proposed waiver comes in response to letters of support on behalf of more than 150 transit agencies from across the U.S. Vehicles would need to meet certain criteria detailed in the proposed waiver. The general non-availability waiver is not specific to any manufacturer’s offering.

The public comment period is open through Jan. 6.

FTA’s Buy America statute requires that rolling stock, including minibuses, must have more than 70-percent domestic content and that final assembly must occur in the U.S. FTA concluded there are currently no electric minibuses that meet FTA’s domestic content or final assembly requirements. To encourage potential market entrants to build the requisite domestic supply chains and establish a final assembly facility in the U.S., FTA proposes that the waiver would phase out over time and end three years after it is finalized.

Additional Links:
Federal Register Notice
Buy America Overview and Waivers
Regulations.gov Docket