LA Metro awards a contract to New Flyer for up to 100 Xcelsior Battery-electric 60-foot transit buses to advance its Clean Transit Agenda

ST. CLOUD, MN, Oct. 10, 2017 /CNW/ - (TSX: NFI) New Flyer of America Inc. ("New Flyer"), the U.S. subsidiary of New Flyer Industries Inc. ("NFI Group"), the largest transit bus and motor coach manufacturer and parts distributor in North America, today announced that the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LACMTA or "LA Metro") has awarded New Flyer of America a contract for up to 100 Xcelsior^® battery-electric, zero-emission, 60-foot heavy-duty transit buses.  The contract includes 35 firm orders with options to purchase an additional 65 buses. 

The decision was spurred by LA Metro's commitment to all-electric transit buses by 2030, and was supported by the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) Local Labor Hiring Pilot Program. That program  enables FTA grantees, including states and local agencies, to utilize social or economic contracting requirements in competitive bidding. In addition, the Transportation Diversity Council (TDC) will assist with local employment, hiring a diverse workforce, and the addition of life-skills training by the New Flyer Institute, the Company's proprietary learning center.

"We are honored to partner with LA Metro to pursue new frontiers for sustainable and zero-emission transit and proud to have been selected from this competitive procurement," said Wayne Joseph, President of New Flyer of America. "New Flyer has five decades of experience manufacturing electric transit buses, starting with trolleys in 1969. With the new Xcelsior CHARGE™ we can now deliver enhanced battery-electric transit technology on a proven bus platform that meets the demands of America's communities."

New Flyer's Xcelsior CHARGE™ buses will be deployed on LA Metro's technologically-advanced Orange Line. These buses offer up to USD $400,000 in energy savings and up to USD $125,000 in maintenance savings over a 12-year life span, and can travel up to 230 miles on a single charge¹. When charged on-route, the Xcelsior CHARGE™ remains continuously operational to meet daily service requirements.

"Metro is fully committed to improving the health of people across the region – and these new electric buses will help improve air quality and reduce noise pollution," said Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti, Chair of the Metro Board. "As the largest transit agency in the country to commit to a fully electric fleet by 2030, Metro continues to serve as a global leader for sustainable policies, all while creating good-paying local jobs.

The NFI Group has been advancing innovation in battery-electric transit technology since 2008, and in October 2017, introduced the Xcelsior CHARGE™ - its next-generation battery-electric bus with improved design, performance, and technological advancement. It is the quietest, most accessible transit bus available, with the highest gross axle rating due to battery distribution.

New Flyer has bus service, parts, and manufacturing support at three California facilities located in Ontario, Los Alamitos, and Fresno. LA Metro currently serves as the transportation planner, coordinator, designer, builder, and operator for over 10 million people residing in a 4,000-square mile area. In 2017, it committed to all electric buses  by 2030.

This new award, which includes the Xcelsior battery-electric buses and charging hardware, will add a total of 200 equivalent units to New Flyer's backlog. The NFI Group has over 50 years of experience in manufacturing zero-emission buses (ZEBs) and employs more American workers than any other bus manufacturer in North America.

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¹ 230 miles with a 480 kWH charge, range per FTA Altoona Test Protocol

About NFI Group

NFI Group is the largest transit bus and motor coach manufacturer and parts distributor in North America, with 31 fabrication, manufacturing, distribution, and service centers across Canada and the U.S. employing over 5,800 team members.

It is North America's heavy-duty transit bus leader and offers the largest transit bus product line under the brand Xcelsior^®, incorporating the broadest range of drive systems available, including: clean diesel, natural gas, diesel-electric hybrid, trolley-electric, and battery-electric. NFI Group actively supports over 44,000 heavy-duty transit buses (New Flyer, NABI, and Orion) currently in service, of which 6,400 are powered by electric and battery propulsion.

NFI Group is also North America's motor coach market leader offering the Motor Coach Industries Inc. (MCI) J-Series, the industry's best-selling intercity coach for 11 consecutive years, and the MCI D-Series, the industry's best-selling motor coach line in North American history. MCI is also the exclusive distributor of Daimler's Setra S 417 and S 407 motor coaches in the United States and Canada. MCI actively supports over 28,000 coaches currently in service.

NFI Group also operates North America's most comprehensive parts organization, NFI Parts™, providing parts, technical publications, training, and support for its OEM product lines (transit buses and motor coaches). All buses and coaches are also supported by an industry-leading comprehensive warranty, service, and support network.

Further information is available on NFI Group websites at www.newflyer.com and www.mcicoach.com. The common shares of the NFI Group are traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol NFI.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release may contain forward-looking statements relating to expected future events and financial and operating results of NFI Group that involve risks and uncertainties. Although the forward-looking statements contained in this press release are based upon what management believes to be reasonable assumptions, investors cannot be assured that actual results will be consistent with these forward-looking statements, and the differences may be material. Actual results may differ materially from management expectations as projected in such forward-looking statements for a variety of reasons, including market and general economic conditions and economic conditions of and funding availability for customers to purchase buses and to purchase parts or services, customers may not exercise options to purchase additional buses, the ability of customers to suspend or terminate contracts for convenience and the other risks and uncertainties discussed in the materials filed with the Canadian securities regulatory authorities and available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. Due to the potential impact of these factors, the NFI Group disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, unless required by applicable law.

SOURCE New Flyer of America Inc.