Rockwell in Bus Deal

Rockwell International Corp.’s automotive unit said Monday that it has joined forces with two major German companies, Siemens AG Transportation Systems and Voith Turbo GmbH & Co., to develop components for electrically powered buses.

The three companies, which have been working together for about four months, have signed Northern California bus maker Gillig Corp. as their first customer. Terms of the contract with the Hayward-based manufacturer were not disclosed. The electric buses will feature low floors that make access easier. They also will run quieter and will feature lower operating costs than conventional diesel-powered buses, said Brad Arnold, general sales manager for Rockwell’s Off-Highway and Specialty Products business.

The first buses are expected to be commercially available in 1997.

Rockwell Automotive is the Troy, Mich., automotive parts unit of Seal Beach-based Rockwell International. The automotive division was the initial Rockwell company, founded in 1919 as a manufacturer of truck and bus axles. It remains a major international manufacturer and supplier of heavy-duty axles and brake systems.

Siemens is a major international electronics company, while Voith, a unit of J.M. Voith GmbH, designs and manufactures heavy machinery and transportation components.

The companies announced their electric bus development venture during the American Public Transit Assn.’s international transit show in Anaheim.