NFI NFI Group Inc

New Flyer mobility solutions now available through simplified procurement in Oregon, with opportunity to expand procurement into Washington, Alaska, and Idaho

ST. CLOUD, MN, Feb. 13, 2020 /CNW/ - (TSX: NFI) New Flyer of America Inc. ("New Flyer"), a subsidiary of NFI Group Inc. ("NFI"), one of the world's leading independent global bus manufacturers, today announced that New Flyer has been selected by the Oregon State Government as an approved supplier of heavy-duty low-floor transit buses to the State of Oregon Heavy-Duty Transit Bus Price Agreement.

The agreement was procured through the Oregon State Department of Transportation ("ODOT") in collaboration with the Oregon Department of Administrative Services, and simplifies the procurement of heavy-duty low-floor transit buses for State agencies of Oregon, Oregon Cooperative Procurement Program participants, authorized members to the State of Washington Master Contracts Usage Agreement, and upon execution of a cooperative interstate agreement with the State of Oregon, approved agencies within the State of Idaho and State of Alaska.

The agreement is for up to five (5) years, including a base term of two (2) years with options to extend for three (3) additional one-year (1) periods. Under the contract, New Flyer can provide a wide range of products on its proven Xcelsior^® platform, including thirty-five-foot and forty-foot buses offered in zero-emission electric, low-emission diesel-electric hybrid, low-emission compressed natural gas ("CNG"), and clean diesel propulsions.

"We commend the State of Oregon on a simplified procurement process for transit buses, touching four states and allowing its agencies access to safe and reliable mobility solutions to keep growing communities moving," said Chris Stoddart, President, New Flyer. "We are excited to continue supporting Oregon's leading transit agencies in delivering sustainable, accessible, and efficient transportation solutions, and also look forward to expanded mobility in the states of Washington, Idaho, and Alaska."

Since 1997, New Flyer has delivered nearly 450 buses in the state of Oregon, including the recent delivery of 40-foot zero-emission, battery-electric Xcelsior CHARGE™ buses delivered to Tri-County Metropolitan Transportation District of Oregon (TriMet) in Portland.

Oregon's transit systems provide over 52 million miles and 3 million hours of transit service to over 127 million rides per year. A fleet of more than 2,400 publicly owned transit vehicles serve Oregon, with ODOT resources helping purchase about half of these vehicles¹.

The contract aligns with New Flyer's strategy of supporting state procurements and cooperative purchasing agreements, from which transit agencies within a prescribed region or defined list can purchase. These contracts, however, are not recorded in backlog as they do not have defined quantities allocated to NFI, or any other original equipment manufacturer. Once an agency purchases a bus under one of these agreements, the purchase is recorded as a firm order.

In alignment with ODOT's Affirmative Action program designed to ensure equal employment opportunity without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, disability or sexual orientation, New Flyer remains proudly committed to partnering with DBE firms, or those operated by socially and economically disadvantaged persons, including minority and women-owned businesses ("MBE" and "WBE"), to advance fair and inclusive procurement opportunities. In addition, in January 2020 New Flyer announced an expansion to its partnership with the Transportation Diversity Council, focused on its forthcoming national Community Benefits Framework that will build on existing workforce diversity and workforce development initiatives to administer local agreements with transit agencies, community partners, and local agencies to support communities. For more information on New Flyer's social governance initiatives and performance, visit the NFI Environmental Social Governance Report at nfigroup.com/ESGR2019.

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 of America Inc.