New Flyer issues order to BC Transit for more CNG buses; further supports BC's low carbon program with immediate emission reduction

WINNIPEG, March 9, 2020 /CNW/ - (TSX: NFI) New Flyer Industries Canada ULC ("New Flyer"), a subsidiary of NFI Group Inc. ("NFI"), one of the world's leading independent global bus manufacturers, today announced that the BC Transit Corporation ("BC Transit") has issued an order for 17 compressed natural gas ("CNG") Xcelsior^® forty-foot, heavy-duty transit buses. The order follows BC Transit's purchase of 68 CNG buses in August 2019, which were converted from the New Flyer option backlog.

This purchase continues to support BC Transit's low carbon program and commitment to full electrification by 2040, as announced in July 2019. With this plan, BC Transit will gradually transition all 1,200 of its buses from traditional propulsion to zero-emission vehicles.

"BC Transit has long been a leader in sustainable transit, and with the 2019 commitment to full fleet electrification by 2040, we continue down the path in supporting BC Transit's evolution toward 100% zero-emission," said Chris Stoddart, President, New Flyer. "We are proud to be North America's leader in sustainable buses, technology, and infrastructure, and even more so to continue partnering with an agency that demonstrates a progressive and proven plan to get there."

CNG propulsion can reduce nitrogen oxides emissions and has an immediate impact on improving air quality. With clean, safe, and readily available technology, CNG propulsion emits 90% less nitrogen oxide (NOx) than diesel engines – and meets particulate matter levels without the need of a filter. Since 1994, New Flyer has delivered over 13,000 CNG buses across North America.

"We are focused on achieving sustainable transportation through a strategy that drives innovation and modernization of our fleet," said Erinn Pinkerton, President and Chief Executive Officer of BC Transit. "We value our relationship with New Flyer, and their role in helping BC Transit reduce emissions in our communities and in delivering transportation solutions our customers can rely on."

BC Transit provides public transportation in British Columbia, Canada, for all regions outside the Greater Vancouver area, delivering over 50 million passenger trips per year. It is responsible for the planning and delivery for all municipal transit systems in British Columbia, supporting over 130 communities with sustainable transportation.

Since 1982, NFI has delivered over 1,300 buses to BC Transit, including New Flyer transit buses, Alexander Dennis Limited double-deck buses, and ARBOC^® low-floor cutaway buses.

New Flyer has been leading innovation in mobility for nearly 90 years, and today supports growing North American cities with sustainable buses, technology, and infrastructure. It also operates the Vehicle Innovation Center, the first and only innovation lab of its kind dedicated to advancing bus technology and providing essential workforce development through electric bus training. New Flyer was the first bus manufacturer in the world to sign on to the Shared Mobility Principles for Livable Cities, and is currently developing automated bus technology to improve safety in public transit.

About NFI

With 9,000 team members operating from more than 50 facilities across ten countries, NFI is a leading independent global bus manufacturer providing a comprehensive suite of mass transportation solutions under brands: New Flyer^® (heavy-duty transit buses), Alexander Dennis Limited (single and double-deck buses), Plaxton (motor coaches), MCI^® (motor coaches), ARBOC^® (low-floor cutaway and medium-duty buses), and NFI Parts™. NFI buses and motor coaches incorporate the widest range of drive systems available including: clean diesel, natural gas, diesel-electric hybrid, and zero-emission electric (trolley, battery, and fuel cell).  In total, NFI now supports over 105,000 buses and coaches currently in service around the world. NFI common shares are traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol NFI. News and information are available at www.nfigroup.com, www.newflyer.com, www.mcicoach.com, www.arbocsv.com, www.alexander-dennis.com, and www.nfi.parts. 

About New Flyer

New Flyer is North America's heavy-duty transit bus leader and offers the most advanced product line under the Xcelsior^® and Xcelsior CHARGE™ brands. It also offers infrastructure development through New Flyer Infrastructure Solutions™, a service dedicated to providing safe, sustainable, and reliable charging and mobility solutions. New Flyer actively supports over 41,000 heavy-duty transit buses (New Flyer, NABI, and Orion) currently in service, of which 7,300 are powered by electric motors and battery propulsion and 1,600 are zero-emission. Further information is available at www.newflyer.com.

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 Industries Canada