LARBERT, Scotland, Oct. 21
2020 /CNW/ - (TSX: NFI) Alexander Dennis Limited ("ADL"), a
subsidiary of NFI Group Inc. ("NFI"), one of the world's largest
independent global bus manufacturers, today announced that the
first two Enviro500 buses have been unveiled by Berliner
Verkehrsbetriebe ("BVG"), ahead of a new fleet of double deckers
for the transport operator of Berlin,
Germany.
Berlin's new generation of
iconic yellow double deck buses is the first to have been designed
in Britain by ADL, the world's
leading supplier of double deck buses. Using its global expertise,
the manufacturer has tailored the Alexander Dennis Enviro500 to the
requirements of bus services in the German capital while
maintaining its proven benefits, including a lightweight aluminium
body construction that improves fuel economy without compromising
on longevity.
The first two Alexander Dennis double deckers for BVG are part
of a framework contract for up to 430 Enviro500, signed in
October 2018. In addition to the two
buses now delivered, an order will be placed for 198 units
following the successful completion of a testing programme with the
initial pair of vehicles.
BVG Chief Executive Officer Eva
Kreienkamp said: "Big yellow buses are as much a part of
Berlin as the television tower and
Brandenburg Gate. I am delighted that we are now able to continue
this tradition, while observing market developments for electric
buses."
Berlin's Enviro500 are 13.8
metres long and 4.06 metres tall. With three doors and two
staircases, they facilitate rapid boarding and alighting on busy
urban services.
Passengers will benefit from USB chargers at each of the 80
fixed seats, while the maximum capacity of 112 passengers allows
for additional standees, buggies and two wheelchair users. A live
indication of upper deck seat availability is provided at the
bottom of the stairs and large screens throughout the vehicle show
next stops, connections and other relevant information. Stop
request buttons that provide acoustic feedback and tactile
handrails at all doors benefit the travel experience of visually
impaired customers.
The novel interior lighting changes colour tone according to
exterior air temperature, assisting passengers' subjective thermal
comfort in addition to full air-conditioning and auxiliary
heating.
Paul Davies, ADL President &
Managing Director, said: "It is an honour for ADL to have been
selected as the supplier of a new generation of double deck buses
for Berlin. We have drawn on our
experience with over 18,000 double deckers deployed around the
world – in Canada, the United States, Mexico, United
Kingdom, Ireland,
Switzerland, Hong Kong, Singapore and New
Zealand – to jointly develop a bus that fully responds to
BVG's needs and delivers an outstanding travel experience for bus
users in Berlin."
To support the testing programme and the future serial
production vehicles, ADL has recruited local teams and
invested in an office, service workshop and parts warehouse in
Berlin, which will also function
as the regional hub for further European expansion.
It is expected that the first two Alexander Dennis Enviro500
will enter passenger service in mid-November on Berlin's flagship route 100, which this autumn
celebrates its 30th anniversary of linking East and West
following the fall of the Berlin Wall.
About NFI
With 9,000 team members in ten countries, NFI is a leading
global bus manufacturer of mass mobility solutions under the brands
New Flyer® (heavy-duty transit buses), MCI® (motor coaches),
Alexander Dennis Limited (single and double-deck buses), Plaxton
(motor coaches), ARBOC® (low-floor cutaway and medium-duty buses),
and NFI Parts™. NFI currently offers the widest range of
sustainable drive systems available, including zero-emission
electric (trolley, battery, and fuel cell), natural gas, electric
hybrid, and clean diesel. In total, NFI supports its installed base
of over 105,000 buses and coaches around the world. NFI common
shares are traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol
NFI. News and information is available at www.nfigroup.com,
www.newflyer.com, www.mcicoach.com, www.arbocsv.com,
www.alexander-dennis.com, and www.nfi.parts.
About Alexander Dennis
Alexander Dennis Limited ("ADL") is a global leader in the
design and manufacture of double deck buses and is also the UK's
largest bus and coach manufacturer. ADL offers single and double
deck vehicles under the brands of Alexander Dennis and Plaxton, and
has over 31,000 vehicles in service in the UK, Europe, Hong
Kong, Singapore,
New Zealand, Mexico, Canada and the
United States. Further information is available at
www.alexander-dennis.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains certain forward-looking statements
which reflect the expectations of management regarding NFI's and
ADL's future growth, business prospects and sales opportunities.
These forward-looking statements reflect management's current
expectations regarding future events and opportunities and speak
only as of the date of this press release. Forward-looking
statements involve significant risks and uncertainties, should not
be read as guarantees of future events, performance or results, and
will not necessarily be accurate indications of whether or not or
the times at or by which such events, performance or results will
be achieved. 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
transit operators to purchase buses; the two buses delivered must
be operated and tested by BVG under its testing programme prior to
it ordering further buses from ADL and there is no guarantee that
the buses will successfully pass such testing programme nor that
the customer will order any buses under the contract, 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 by
NFI with the Canadian securities regulatory authorities and
available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. Due to the potential impact of
these factors, NFI and ADL disclaim 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 NFI Group Inc.