LARBERT, Scotland, Jan. 11, 2021 /CNW/ - (TSX: NFI) Alexander Dennis
Limited ("ADL") and BYD UK jointly announced today that ADL and BYD
will commence the design and assembly of chassis for the BYD ADL
partnership's electric single and double deck buses for the British
market, ensuring completed vehicles are built in the UK. ADL is a
subsidiary of leading independent global bus manufacturer NFI Group
Inc. ("NFI"), while BYD is a global leader in batteries, energy
management and electric mobility.
Electric bus chassis assembly will take place in ADL's
facilities with on-the-ground support from the BYD team, and is
planned to commence in the second half of 2021.
This significant step has been taken in response to the
increasing demand for zero emission vehicles. It further
strengthens the partnership's market-leading position while
underpinning jobs in Britain and
developing skills in the growing market for clean vehicle
technology.
Since it began in 2015, the partnership has gone from strength
to strength, with over 500 electric buses delivered or on order.
They have clocked up a combined over 16 million emission-free miles
of reliable service in London
as well as numerous towns and cities across the UK. More than 70%
of electric buses introduced in Britain in this period were supplied by the
BYD ADL partnership.
Until now, chassis for the BYD ADL Enviro200EV single deck and
BYD ADL Enviro400EV double deck buses were fully built by BYD
before being delivered to ADL's facilities in the UK to have their
bodywork fitted.
Frank Thorpe, Managing Director
of BYD UK, said: "This news underpins the fantastic relationship we
have with ADL in the UK. We have always worked closely to deliver
the highest quality products and services, and we are confident
that production of complete vehicles here in the UK will bring even
greater efficiencies for our customers. More importantly," he said,
"this commitment from both BYD and ADL is also a reflection of the
acceptance of eMobility from Local Authorities, bus operators and
their passengers. Electrification in our towns and cities is
gathering pace, and the BYD ADL partnership is spearheading the
drive towards a more sustainable future."
Paul Davies, President &
Managing Director of ADL, commented: "I am delighted that we're
moving our electric bus partnership to this next level and building
complete zero emission buses for the UK market in the UK. This
ensures that investment in sustainable transport for our towns and
cities delivers full economic benefits to communities right across
the country."
About NFI
Leveraging 450 years of combined
experience, NFI is leading the battery-electric transition of mass
mobility around the world. With zero-emission buses and coaches,
infrastructure, and technology, NFI meets today's urban demands for
scalable smart mobility solutions. Together, NFI is enabling more
livable cities through connected, clean, and sustainable
transportation.
NFI is a leading independent global bus manufacturer providing a
comprehensive suite of mass transportation solutions in ten
countries 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 vehicles 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. Further information is available at
www.nfigroup.com, www.newflyer.com, www.mcicoach.com,
www.arbocsv.com, www.nfi.parts, and www.alexander-dennis.com.
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.
About BYD
BYD Company Ltd. is one of China's largest privately-owned enterprises.
Since its inception in 1995, the company quickly developed solid
expertise in rechargeable batteries and became a relentless
advocate of sustainable development, successfully expanding its
renewable energy solutions globally with operations in over 50
countries and regions. Its creation of a Zero Emissions Energy
Ecosystem – comprising affordable solar power generation, reliable
energy storage and cutting-edge electrified transportation – has
made it an industry leader in the energy and transportation
sectors. BYD is listed on the Hong
Kong and Shenzhen Stock Exchanges. More information on the
company can be found at www.byd.com.
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SOURCE NFI Group Inc.