NABI LFW
The NABI LFW is a line of low‑floor city buses made by North American Bus Industries from 1997 to 2015. They came in 30 ft, 35 ft, and 40 ft rigid versions, plus a 60 ft articulated model (60‑LFW). These buses offered several power options, including diesel, LNG, CNG, and a diesel‑electric hybrid.
The LFW family ran alongside the older high‑floor NABI SFW buses. The LFW feature set included taller windows in the low‑floor area. In 1998, NABI announced the CompoBus, a composite‑bodied low‑floor bus, with orders starting in 1999. In 2004, NABI also introduced the BRT line designed for bus rapid transit.
The LFW was restyled in 2008 (Gen II) to resemble the BRT styling with small quarter windows; those windows were removed in 2011 (Gen III). The front overhang length increased across generations. The 60‑ft articulated version was led by the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) in 2001, but the 60‑LFW had reliability problems and was retired by 2009; CTA pursued legal action and the case was settled later.
About 4,500 LFW buses were produced. The 40 ft model was the most common, with smaller numbers of 31 ft and 35 ft orders, and a limited number of 60 ft orders. The final LFW orders included 40 ft buses for DART in 2015.
In 2013, New Flyer bought NABI, and production of NABI buses ended in 2015 as existing orders were fulfilled. The Anniston, Alabama plant was then repurposed to build New Flyer Xcelsior low‑floor buses.
This page was last edited on 3 February 2026, at 07:35 (CET).