MCI announces Peoria Charter Coach as a winner of the UMA Environmental Leadership Award

Des Plaines, Illinois, USA – January 13, 2023: (TSX: NFI, OTC: NFYEF, TSX: NFI.DB) Motor Coach Industries (“MCI”), a subsidiary of NFI Group Inc. (“NFI”), and North America’s motor coach leader backed by reliable in-field technical expertise, 24/7 roadside assistance, and parts support, today announced that Peoria Charter Coach received the United Motorcoach Association’s (“UMA”) Environmental Leadership Award during the UMA EXPO 2023, January 11-14 in Orlando, Florida.

The UMA Environmental Leadership Award, sponsored by MCI, was introduced in 2008 to honor operators that demonstrate the greatest commitment to environmental sustainability in their business practices.

“Peoria Charters is a leading industry example of green stewardship,” said Brent Maitland, Vice President, Private Sector Sales and Marketing, MCI. “The Peoria Charter team is forward thinkers in their fuel conservation policies, and we applaud their efforts in promoting the environmental benefits of travel by motorcoaches powered by clean diesel technology.” 

Peoria Charter Coach, a leading Midwestern charter coach and scheduled service provider, operates across three locations in Illinois, including its newest site in Chicago, runs a fleet of newer model coaches, and uses biodiesel to power its coaches.

Bill Winkler, President of Peoria Charters, a third-generation family member to run the company, advocates that taking a motorcoach powered by clean diesel is the best environmental transportation choice a traveler can make. “We are as close to zero-emissions as we can be,” said Winkler. “The exhaust on today’s motorcoaches is cleaner than the air coming in. Protecting the environment is a value we uphold and consistently promote to our ridership. We are delighted to receive this award.”

Each of the company’s 40 coaches proudly displays a “Powered By Clean-Diesel Technology” badge at the entryway for passengers to notice.

Diesel power systems continue to achieve dramatic reductions in emissions, and the company’s use of biodiesel reduces emissions even further. According to James Wang, Peoria Charters Director of Operations, additional fuel-saving initiatives include Peoria’s proprietary software system that lets staff match passenger pick-up points and drop-off destinations. This allows routes to be planned more efficiently to minimize trip miles and fuel usage. Additionally, a stringent idling policy and driver merit program earn drivers star emblems for their uniforms for excellent safety and fuel-efficient driving.

From its very start, sustainability and productivity have been the driving force behind this busy charter operator. Peoria Charters’ founder traded in the family car and received a loan from his sister to buy his first bus. He began the business by shuttling workers to a nearby engine plant in 1941 at a time when gas was being rationed during World War II.

Today, the company is both a charter and scheduled service company serving private and public universities, sports teams, and daily routes 365 days a year, along with shuttles to Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport. The company transports 500,000 passengers each year.

Peoria Charters lists the six reasons why riding with this charter operator makes every day Earth Day, noting that a single motor coach can remove as many as 60 cars from the road at any one time and is the most cost-efficient and efficient means to energy conservation in the transportation sector.

Worth noting is that a single person can reduce his carbon footprint by 77 percent for every 16 miles traveling by motorcoach rather than by car.

Today, NFI supports growing North American cities with scalable, clean, and sustainable mobility solutions through a four-pillar approach that includes buses and coaches, technology, infrastructure, and workforce development. NFI also operates the Vehicle Innovation Center (“VIC”), the first and only innovation lab of its kind dedicated to advancing bus and coach technology and providing workforce development. Since opening in late 2017, the VIC has hosted over 350 interactive events, welcoming 7,000 industry professionals for EV and infrastructure training.

About MCI

MCI is North America’s public and private market motor coach leader. Products include the luxury J Series (an industry best-seller for over a decade), the workhorse D Series, and the brand new zero-emission luxury and commuter coaches: the battery-electric J4500 CHARGE™, D45 CRT CHARGE™ and D45 CRT LE CHARGE™. MCI also provides maintenance, repair, 24-hour roadside assistance, parts, and technician training through the industry’s only Automotive Service Excellence (“ASE”) accredited and award-winning MCI Academy.

About NFI

Leveraging 450 years of combined experience, NFI is leading the electrification 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.

With 7,500 team members in nine 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. The Shares are traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol NFI and NFI’s convertible unsecured debentures trade on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol NFI.DB. News and information is available at www.nfigroup.com, www.newflyer.com, www.mcicoach.com, www.nfi.parts, www.alexander-dennis.com, www.arbocsv.com, and www.carfaircomposites.com.

Forward-Looking Statement

This press release may contain forward-looking statements relating to expected future events and financial and operating results of the 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 those 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, 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.

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