New Flyer was founded by John Coval in 1930 as the Western Auto and Truck Body Works Ltd in Manitoba.

[5] New Flyer designed and tested North America's first low-floor bus in 1988 and delivered the first production model, called the D40LF, to the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey in 1991.

In 1995, the company delivered the first low-floor articulated bus in North America to Strathcona County Transit.

In March 2002, New Flyer was acquired by KPS Capital Partners, an investment company that specializes in turning around struggling businesses, for $44 million.

[8] On December 15, 2003, New Flyer was purchased by private equity firms Harvest Partners and Lightyear Capital.

Manufacturing facilities are located in Winnipeg; Anniston, Alabama; Crookston, Minnesota; Jamestown, New York; and St.