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At Frontrunner® Bus, we’re pleased to share the latest development in accessible and efficient public transportation: Lassen County, California, has incorporated the Frontrunner into its fleet, dramatically enhancing transit options for its rural residents. As a new addition to the Lassen Rural Bus (LRB) service, the Frontrunner makes daily commutes smoother and safer, particularly for elderly and disabled passengers who depend on reliable public transit for essential travel. Meeting Lassen County’s Unique Needs Located in northeastern California, Lassen County’s geography presents distinct transportation challenges, from rugged terrain to significant winter snowfall. With a high proportion of riders requiring accessible services, the LRB service, managed by the Lassen County Transportation Commission, sought a solution that would meet these unique needs. Enter the Frontrunner Bus. Caleb Schortz, General Manager for Paratransit Services, first discovered the Frontrunner through a chance email—and the bus’s low-floor design immediately stood out. “We need low-floor vehicles for our Dial-A-Ride service, which serves many wheelchair and elderly passengers,” said Schortz. “The Frontrunner’s design is exactly what we need.” Why the Frontrunner Works for Lassen County The Frontrunner’s thoughtful design is proving invaluable for Lassen County. Its low-floor entry and ample wheelchair space make boarding and exiting much easier, while its small body size and tight turning radius allow it to navigate city streets with ease. Since joining the LRB fleet in 2022, the Frontrunner has been primarily used on the City Express Route, achieving an impressive 92% on-time performance—an essential metric for public transit reliability. Nick Shoemaker, the fleet’s mechanic, praised the Frontrunner for its ease of maintenance. “Apart from a minor issue with a cooling hose, it’s been straightforward to maintain,” Shoemaker noted. A Bus for Both Riders and Drivers The Frontrunner has quickly become a favorite among LRB drivers, who appreciate its comfort and safety features, such as supportive seating and a narrower A-pillar to reduce blind spots. Passengers, too, have responded positively, particularly elderly riders who value the bus’s spacious, open floor plan and low noise level. With a state-of-the-art HEPA filtration system, the Frontrunner also meets today's passengers' health and safety concerns, enhancing air quality during transit. Built for Lassen County’s Weather Lassen County faces tough winter conditions, and the Frontrunner’s design has risen to the challenge. While chains are still necessary for severe weather, the bus’s lightweight structure allows it to “float” on the snow, maintaining stability and safety. Its four-corner air suspension, with the latest ECAS system, offers unmatched comfort and fuel efficiency, lowering the bus at highway speeds to improve aerodynamics and providing the lowest step-in height and ramp angle in the industry. Future Plans for the Frontrunner in Lassen County The success of the initial Frontrunner deployment has paved the way for growth. Lassen County Transit is preparing to order additional Frontrunner buses to meet the needs of its expanding service area. Assistant Transportation Planner Jasleen Mutti confirmed that they plan to continue investing in the Frontrunner, recognizing it as the most fuel-efficient vehicle in their fleet. “The Frontrunner has quickly proven its value in our community,” said Mutti. “We’re excited to see how it will support our long-term goals for service connectivity and efficiency.” Driving the Future of Rural Public Transit The addition of the Frontrunner Bus to Lassen County’s fleet marks a significant step toward accessible, efficient, and reliable public transportation in the region. By addressing the specific needs of Lassen County’s residents and adapting to environmental challenges, the Frontrunner is more than just a new vehicle—it’s a transformative tool for the community. As Lassen County Transit continues to expand and evolve, the Frontrunner stands poised to become a cornerstone of rural public transit, enhancing quality of life for those who depend on it every day. Learn More and Contact Us For more details on the positive impact of the Frontrunner in Lassen County, please read the full article in BUSRide . If you have any questions or need further information about Frontrunner®’s accessible transportation solutions, please don't hesitate to contact us. Visit our Contact Page or reach out to our customer service team—we’re here to help! Stay tuned to our blog for more updates on how transportation is evolving to meet the needs of every passenger. Together, we make strides towards creating a more accessible and inclusive community.

Featured in the Busline Magazine, the Low Floor Frontrunner Bus emerges as a beacon of innovation in the transportation sector. Designed to surpass traditional expectations in the cutaway bus class, the Frontrunner embodies the future of travel with its superior fuel economy, safety, convenience, and passenger comfort. Garnering an impressive 91% in the Altoona durability test, it not only sets a new benchmark for durability but also champions environmental sustainability with its exceptional fuel efficiency. Its advanced composite body structure and unparalleled design innovations underscore its position as the most technologically advanced low floor mini-bus in today's market. This article, published in Busline Magazine's September/October 2023 issue, offers an in-depth look at the revolutionary features of the Low Floor Frontrunner and its significant impact on reshaping the transportation landscape. Read Article:

Press Release: March 3, 2025 We are excited to announce that New England Wheels, Inc. has officially changed its name to Frontrunner Bus Group, Inc. This name change reflects the growth of our brand around our groundbreaking Low Floor Frontrunner and our commitment to growth and innovation. Efficiency, accessibility, and reliability are crucial to all transportation operations. Our Low Floor Frontrunner addresses these pain points, offering an efficient, user-friendly design that enhances the passenger experience while optimizing operational costs. As we look toward the future, we will soon be introducing more innovative solutions that continue to raise the bar in mid-sized bus transportation and benefit all levels of mobility in public and private transit. For more information, contact: Gina Ciampa 1-800-886-9247 Frontrunner Bus Group, Inc. 33 Manning Road Billerica MA 01821

FrontRunner® was recently featured in Metro Magazine’s Shuttle Ops supplement! Described as a “bus that has broken all the rules”, the FrontRunner® is built on the Ram Promaster 3500 chassis and features a lowered-floor and gross vehicle weight of 9,350 pounds. New England Wheels kept 3 key points in mind when building the FrontRunner®: Strength, Durability and Light-Weight. It uses ultra-high strength lightweight steel in its purpose-built chassis, which is then fully dipped in a hot-dipped galvanized process for superior corrosion resistance and fully composite wall panels, patented for their light-weight. Because of this lightweight, the FrontRunner® is fuel efficient, and according to end-users getting as high as 16-17 miles to the gallon on the highway. The vehicle is also front-wheel drive, making is significantly easier to handle, especially in the elements due to its tighter turning radius. The FrontRunner® lowered-floor minibus successfully completed the Federal Transit Administration’s (FTA) Altoona Testing program with a score of 91 on the new pass/fail test. Read the full article.

Since its development in 2016, the purpose built , low-floor Frontrunner minibus has raised the bar in every aspect of passenger transportation.

Introducing the NEW Standard in Lowered Floor Commercial Transportation. When we set out to design and build the country’s first true lowered floor fully composite ⁱ front wheel drive mini-bus we were determined to break the mold. For decades the American bus industry has relied on tubular steel bus body structures built on rear wheel drive chassis that are heavy, fuel inefficient, and where ride-quality and vehicle aesthetics are often an after-thought. With the introduction of the front-wheel drive Pro-Master cutaway the opportunity to be unencumbered by a rear drive-train allowed our engineering team to design a true lowered floor mini-bus that redefines what up until now has only been available on larger transit style buses. A traditional 15 passenger bus does not address the needs of our aging population. For many of the country’s aging baby boomers, navigating three 10.5” steps can be an impossible task. For those confined to wheelchairs, the notion of being hoisted four feet in the air can be an uncomfortable experience. For operators, traditional wheelchair lifts take up valuable space, add significant weight to the vehicle, limited seating capacity, and most importantly serve as a source of frequent downtime due to service related interruptions. The Frontrunner from New England Wheels changes all of this and redefines what commercial transportation in the 15 passenger class should be! Step in height in the kneeling position of only 8.5” makes entry and egress more universally acceptable than a traditional three step bus. Our simple reliable aluminum ramp weighs a mere 60 pounds and meets the proposed ADA standard of 6:1. When the ramp is not needed its low profile swing out functionality preserves valuable passenger space. Fold-away seating for up to six passengers provides the flexibility of accommodating up to three wheelchair positions with the benefit of knowing that ambulatory seating is available when wheelchair accessibility is not needed. With the challenge of building a mini-bus whose GVWR is less than 9,350 pounds our engineers have stepped outside of the box of traditional bus design and thinking to bring to market a light-weight, fuel efficient, flexible, and comfortable 15 passenger transportation solution. As attractive as it is functional, this ground breaking patented design replaces traditional steel with composite materials that are lighter and stronger than a traditional bus design. Our unique use of sandwich panels for our bus structure provides a rattle free, quiet, and smooth ride with additional thermal properties no tubular steel construction can offer. High strength structural adhesives replace traditional steel welding offering the latest in bus building technology. We hope you too will experience the finest lowered floor mini-bus available in the market today. We will continue to re-define value and introduce cutting edge products that shape the way America transports passengers of all ages and abilities. Sincerely, Paul LaRose President

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: New England Wheels FrontRunner® Low Floor Mini-Bus Passes the new 5year/150,000 mile Altoona Test with an impressive Score of 91 Billerica, MA- June 25, 2018 New England Wheels, Inc. announced today that The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) has issued their official report for the company’s next generation lowered floor mini-bus-The FrontRunner®. The 22 foot, 15-passenger true low floor achieved a score of 91 on the new pass/fail test implemented in 2017. “The test validates the design goal that a front wheel drive sub 10,000 GVWR low floor can be lightweight, fuel efficient, user-friendly and durable to address the growing demand for low floor accessibility in this size class” said Paul LaRose President/CEO of New England Wheels. While the pass/fail test at Altoona allowed for 125 hours of downtime due to mechanical failure, the FrontRunner® was charged with only 1 hour explaining its high score in the most demanding portion of the durability test. “We had no failures in our air suspension and no structural issues with our high strength lightweight steel frame during the test. The FrontRunner® really proved it is The Little Bus That Could.” The multi-patented design and construction utilizes the Ram Promaster 3500 cutaway for the drive-train and is joined to a purpose-built lowered floor platform made from high strength lightweight steel. The entire lowered floor chassis is fully galvanized for superior corrosion resistance and longevity. The bus structure utilizes a patented composite wall structure for superior strength and durability. “The front wheel drive platform allowed us to build a lowered floor bus that is truly flat at the entrance unlike the rear wheel drive alternatives that rely on a sloped floor to clear the rear wheel drive components” remarked Mr. LaRose. “In addition, a simple fold-out ramp and full-width transit door make the FrontRunner® the only lowered floor mini-bus in its size class built in the true likeness and utility of a larger 40’ transit bus.” “We are looking at an electric version of the FrontRunner®” added Mr. LaRose. “Right now, the FrontRunner® offers a much greener, fuel efficient, user-friendly alternative to technologies that are still in the development phase but have been released because of what they promise to offer. Compared to a traditional cutaway powered by large inefficient v8’s, three difficult steps to enter, and a side mounted lift, the FrontRunner® is a more economical choice when looking at the total cost of ownership and the rider experience.” The FrontRunner® meets or exceeds all applicable FMVSS standards, is Buy America compliant and is represented by a growing national network of dealers. It has also been approved by the GSA under its 23V-New Technology program for purchase by government agencies. New England Wheels has been structurally modifying vans for over three decades. “We’ve taken the feedback from our customers, the knowledge we’ve gained over the years, our experience with troublesome wheelchair lifts and built the next generation of lowered floor non-CDL commercial transportation in a smaller vehicle” remarked Mr. LaRose. Read more in Metro Magazine. Contact: Paul LaRose-President/CEO info@newenglandwheels.com 33 Manning Road, Billerica, MA 01821 978-663-9724