At a price tag of US$143,000 (J$12.8 million), an old unit owned by the Jamaica Urban Transit Company has been reconditioned and made roadworthy by Brazilian firm Incavel Omnibus E Pecas.

If the unit performs to road standards, Jamaica would consider sending about 190 old units to the South American country for similar rehabilitation, according to Transport Minister Mike Henry.

Henry said the price tag for the repair is about a third the $36 million for a new bus unit.

Costs to recondition and ship the 2002 Torino Volvo B74, a 45-seater bus, were borne by Invacel.

JUTC will eventually repay the rehabilitation cost, but only if the bus tests well on Jamaican roads.

Henry said the repair job involved a new body and chassis parts, new electrical wiring, air conditioning, new or refurbished engines, new or refurbished transmission system, new brake system, a new front, "to give it the seven to eight-year economic lifespan and to look like the new buses, which have been put into the system."

The unit comes with a two-year warranty on body parts, and one year or 100,000 kilometres for engine, chassis and electrical parts.

Prior to repairs, the bus had a book value of approximately J$3 million, and was headed for the scrap heap, according to Henry.