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Private company

Chicago Motor Coach Company

Bus operator in Chicago, Illinois, US (1917–1952)

The Chicago Motor Coach Company was founded in 1917 by John D. Hertz to provide Chicago's first bus transportation services, primarily in places where streetcars were not able to travel. The company grew rapidly and was purchased by the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) in 1952. It operated only motor coaches, whereas the larger Chicago Surface Lines and successor CTA also operated trolley coaches.2 It is part of The Omnibus Corporation.1 Wikipedia text CC BY-SA 4.0

Last updated Oct 21, 2026.

Overview

1917Founded1
  • HeadquartersChicago1

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72 Passenger Double Deck Coach - Model 720 - Chicago Motor C - (3592633731)
Photo: New York Public Library, No restrictions, via Wikimedia Commons4

The Chicago Motor Coach Company was founded in 1917 by John D. Hertz to provide Chicago's first bus transportation services, primarily in places where streetcars were not able to travel. The company grew rapidly and was purchased by the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) in 1952. It operated only motor coaches, whereas the larger Chicago Surface Lines and successor CTA also operated trolley coaches.2

Corporate structure

Chicago Motor Coach Company is part of a group headed by The Omnibus Corporation. 2 entities, 1 country on record. Switch between the flow chart and the network, and select any entity to see its details.

Built from subsidiaries, stakes and holdings from Wikidata (CC0); major holders from Schedules 13D and 13G. Each entity in the chart links to its source.

The story

John D. Hertz founded the Chicago Motor Coach Company in 1917 to run bus transport services in Chicago. During the period that he was running this company he was actively involved with many other transport businesses, including taxicab operation, taxicab manufacture, car rental and the manufacture of coaches and later cars.

He then formed the Yellow Coach Manufacturing Company in 1923 as a subsidiary of the Yellow Cab Company to manufacture buses, many of which were used by the Chicago Coach Company. Hertz sold a majority interest in the Yellow Coach Manufacturing Company to General Motors in 1925 and then the balance in 1943.

By the mid-1920s, the Chicago Coach Company operated with 423 buses and 1,800 employees serving 134 street miles within the city.

On October 1, 1952, the company's assets were purchased by the Chicago Transit Authority.

Additionally, there is a Chicago Motor Coach, Inc. that operates in the Chicago area separate from the original company.

From Wikipedia’s article on Chicago Motor Coach Company, shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.3

Subsidiaries and ownership

Parent company

From Wikidata.1

Acquisitions

  1. Succeeded by Chicago Transit Authority1

Timeline

  1. Sep 30, 1952Dissolved Dissolved1
  2. 1917Founded Founded1

Sources

The numbers on this page point here. Each one links to the record it came from.

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