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Motor Coach Industries (“MCI”), a subsidiary of New Flyer Industries Inc. (the “Company”), the largest bus and motor coach manufacturer and parts supplier in North America, announced today that the Board of Directors for Houston-based METRO (Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County) has awarded MCI a new three-year contract for 139 commuter coaches, including 10 options per year for a total of 169 coaches. The contract has an approximate total value of $ 84 million. The 169 coaches from this order were included in New Flyer’s fourth quarter backlog and orders press release announced on January 11, 2017.
The new METRO contract follows orders in 2014, 2015 and 2016 contracts for a combined total of 105 MCI coaches delivered.
Operating from Park & Ride locations throughout the greater Houston area and leveraging high-occupancy vehicle (HOV) lanes, METRO's new coaches will replace older models for an equipment upgrade of its commuter express services.
METRO’s new coaches are equipped with wheelchair lifts, Kiel seats with three-point passenger seatbelts and baggage bay slide-out bike racks. Equipped with a Cummins ISX engine and Allison B500 transmission, they are powered by the newest EPA-mandated clean-diesel engine technology.
The MCI commuter coach, which is Buy America-compliant and Altoona-tested, is specifically designed for express service and highway speeds. It offers a rugged, semi-monocoque structure which elevates passengers and drivers above traffic. In addition to seat belts, safety features include Electronic Stability Control (ESC), tire pressure monitoring and a fire suppression system, along with a G. Vansco Vs IO Control multiplex system.
METRO and MCI have had a valuable relationship since 2001. Over the past 16 years, the system has purchased 391 MCI commuter coaches, which includes 122 coaches with a diesel-electric hybrid propulsion system. MCI is the first intercity coach manufacturer to offer public transit agencies an over-the-road intercity diesel-electric hybrid propulsion system, as well as coaches with compressed natural gas (CNG) propulsion.
Houston METRO operates an integrated transit system that includes light rail, local bus paratransit, HOV/HOT lanes and 25 Park & Ride lots.
‘We are very honored that Houston METRO has once again found the commuter coach to provide the value and reliable performance important to its operations and ridership,” said Tom Wagner, MCI vice president of public sector sales. “The MCI commuter coach offers METRO’s passengers a comfortable, safe and convenient ride, which is an enormous draw for riders facing a long distance commute during rush hour traffic.”
Houston has a long standing relationship with New Flyer as well. Since 1996, New Flyer and its subsidiary companies have delivered a total of 1,295 low floor clean diesel, compressed natural gas or diesel-electric hybrid powered transit buses to METRO. Most recently, on January 5, 2017 New Flyer announced in a press release an order for 100 Xcelsior® clean diesel 40-foot transit buses to be built for Houston METRO.
NOTE: All dollar amounts are stated in U.S. currency.
About the Company
The Company is the largest transit bus and motor coach manufacturer and parts distributor in North America with fabrication, manufacturing, distribution and service centers in Canada and the United States and employs approximately 5,000 team members.
Through its Canadian and U.S. subsidiaries, Motor Coach Industries Limited and Motor Coach Industries, Inc. (mcicoach.com), the Company is the leader in motor coaches in Canada and the U.S., offering the MCI J4500, which is the industry's best-selling intercity coach for 11 consecutive years, and the MCI D-Series, the industry`s best-selling coach line in North American motor coach history. MCI is also the exclusive distributor of Setra S417 and S407 in the United States and Canada. MCI actively supports over 28,000 motor coaches currently in service and offers 24-hour roadside assistance 365 days a year.
Through its Canadian and U.S. subsidiaries, New Flyer Industries Canada ULC and New Flyer of America Inc., the Company is North America's heavy-duty transit bus leader and offers the broadest transit bus product line (Xcelsior® and MiDi® models), incorporating the broadest range of drive systems available, including: clean diesel, natural gas, diesel-electric hybrid, electric-trolley and now battery-electric. New Flyer (newflyer.com) actively supports over 42,000 heavy-duty transit buses (New Flyer, NABI and Orion) currently in service.
The Company also operates North America's most comprehensive aftermarket parts organization providing support for all types of transit buses and motor coaches. All buses and coaches are supported by an industry-leading comprehensive warranty, service and support network.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release may contain forward-looking statements relating to expected future events and financial and operating results of the Company 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 coaches and to purchase parts or services, customers may not exercise options to purchase additional coaches, 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 sedar.com. Due to the potential impact of these factors, the Company 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.
Contact: Jon Koffman - New Flyer Investor Relations
T: 204-224-6672 - E: investor[.]newflyer.com.
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