The company was based in Joinville in the south of Brazil, where it had industrial premises that covered 1,000,000 m2 (11,000,000 sq ft).

In 1990, the business, by then called Carrocerias Nielson, launched a new family of vehicles and changed its name to Busscar Ônibus, creating a brand that is still known internationally today despite the company's later demise.

On 27 September 2012, the Brazilian judiciary of Santa Catarina declared the bankruptcy of Busscar due to effects from the economic crisis of 2008.

[1] The judge of the 5th Civil Court of Joinville, Walter Santin Júnior, approved the purchase of the Joinville factory in a final ruling on 21 March 2017, consisting of a R$9.4 million cash deposit and another R$57.74 million to be paid in 52 installments with monetary correction.

[2] On 12 June 2017, Maurício Lourenço da Cunha, represented by Sergio Souza, assumed ownership of the factories, with the new company being named Carbuss.