MCI congratulates California’s AVTA on becoming North America’s first all-electric transit agency; celebrates delivery of 20th electric MCI coach to help reach milestone

Des Plaines, Illinois, USA – March 17, 2022: (TSX: NFI, OTC: NFYEF, TSX: NFI.DB) Motor Coach Industries (“MCI”), a subsidiary of NFI Group Inc. (“NFI”), a leading independent bus and coach manufacturer and a leader in electric mass mobility solutions, today congratulated the Antelope Valley Transit Authority (“AVTA”) on announcing the completion of its transition to a 100% zero-emission transit fleet.

AVTA is the transit agency serving the cities of Palmdale, Lancaster, and Northern Los Angeles County in California, with an annual ridership over three million.

The achievement was celebrated by AVTA during a formal event held yesterday in Lancaster, California, alongside its Board of Directors, California Air Resources Board (“CARB”) representatives, Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger, and MCI representatives, who also celebrated the delivery of AVTA’s twentieth MCI electric coach.

The agency purchased 24 D45 CRT LE CHARGE™ battery-electric coaches from MCI as part of its transition to a zero-emission fleet, the first of which delivered last fall. The order was supported by Federal Transit Administration funds and replaced AVTA’s end-of-life vehicles with high-capacity, emission-free coaches, ultimately moving AVTA to fulfillment of CARB’s Innovative Clean Transit (“ICT”) regulation which mandates transition to 100% zero-emission bus (“ZEB”) fleets by 2040.

“We are proud to congratulate AVTA in reaching this significant zero-emission milestone and setting the pace for agencies across America,” said Chris Stoddart, President, North American Bus and Coach, NFI. “With our fully accessible MCI electric coaches, AVTA is leveraging enhanced regenerative braking and high-energy batteries to provide emission-free urban commuting – and together – we are delivering cleaner, quieter mobility in North Los Angeles County.”

MCI’s D45 CRT LE CHARGE™ was launched in May 2021. It features high-torque electric drive systems for operation at highway speeds, up to 170 miles of range, and plug-in battery charging to 100 percent in less than four hours. The D45 CRT LE CHARGE™ also exhibits design advancements of the next generation D series, introduces MCI’s innovative low entry vestibule, and integrates proven CHARGE technology propulsion from New Flyer.

“Long before we saw an electric bus rolling down the streets of the Antelope Valley, the AVTA Board envisioned a future with a greener and technologically superior transit system serving the citizens of Lancaster, Palmdale, and the rural northern Los Angeles County communities,” said Marvin Crist Chairman of the Board, AVTA. “The Board cast a vision and the AVTA staff brought that vision to life.”

MCI’s D-Series commuter coaches are Buy America Compliant, Altoona tested, and built with legendary MCI quality to deliver a unique combination of dependability, passenger comfort, and high-quality performance. For more information, visit mcicoach.com/electric.  

NFI is a leader in zero-emission mobility, with electric vehicles operating (or on order) in more than 80 cities in five countries. NFI offers the widest range of zero-emission battery and fuel cell-electric buses and coaches, and the Company’s vehicles have completed over 50 million EV service miles.

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 late 2017, the VIC has hosted over 300 interactive events, welcoming 5,000 industry professionals for EV and infrastructure training.

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 8,000 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. NFI’s common shares are traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange (“TSX”) under the symbol NFI and its convertible unsecured debentures trade on the TSX 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.

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™ and MCI 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.

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