Kiel North America Infuses California Program with Innovative Seating Systems

Kiel North America recently delivered 107 sets of lightweight, ergonomically designed seats to Riverside, California.

With one of the largest service areas in the nation and record-breaking ridership numbers, the agency had to quickly replace its aging fleet in a cost-effective way. It was also imperative that the new seats should help save operating expenses, support a rigorous CO2 emission reduction program, and provide the utmost comfort and convenience for riders. With over 9.3 million riders boarding buses last year travelling a combined 13.5 million miles, the public transportation system in Riverside offers exceptional service and great user-friendliness to its customers but at the same time this also poses immense demands on the durability and safety of seats.

In Kiel seating systems Riverside found an attractive partner to deliver on-time solutions that not only appeal to riders with their innovative and ergonomic design but that would also exceed fuel-efficiency and safety requirements. Each of the 107 buses is equipped with up to 32 Kiel seats that are manufactured at the Kiel North American facility in Elkhart, Indiana and are fully Buy America compliant.

Ninety of the buses are equipped with the Intra model. The remaining buses feature the Kiel Ligero. The streamlined back profile of the Ligero increases the leg room and allows passengers to move freely about the coach. Both seats are part of Kiel’s modular seating solutions.

“We are tremendously pleased about our first collaboration with Riverside,” says Thomas Schwank, general manager of Kiel North America. “It has been a wonderful pleasure to work with the leadership on being able to offer riders a maximum of smart and innovative seating solutions, while providing the utmost level in safety and fuel efficiency. There are already orders for several more new sets, and we look forward to continuing our thriving relationship.”