MCI to display enhanced J4500 at UMA EXPO 2025

Des Plaines, Illinois, USA – February 19, 2025: (TSX: NFI, OTC: NFYEF, TSX: NFI.DB) Motor Coach Industries (MCI), a subsidiary of NFI Group Inc., and North America’s motorcoach leader backed by reliable in-field technical expertise, 24/7 roadside assistance, and parts support, is highlighting enhancements to its market-leading J4500 motorcoach at this year’s United Motorcoach Association Motorcoach EXPO (UMA EXPO).

The MCI engineering team has incorporated more than 20 quality upgrades and new features to the J4500 to improve coach performance, increase uptime, and reduce operating costs. In addition to the product changes and extensive testing required for the new FMVSS 227 rollover safety standard, MCI has incorporated the following enhancements, among many others, to its model year 2026 J4500 coach:

• Improved front junction box door to better protect electronic components
• Modernized rear junction box to better protect against corrosion
• Completed a holistic review of all hoses and clamping systems to maximize longevity
• Relocated tag axle unload valve to better protect against corrosion
• Redesigned exterior lighting and sealing gaskets to prevent water leaks

Additionally, MCI has invested heavily in its manufacturing operations—radically redesigning and expanding its production lines to increase capacity and efficiency. The company now builds all J- and D-Series models on a common vehicle architecture for ease of maintenance, parts, and operation.

“We truly believe that being reliability driven requires placing product quality at the center of our focus,” said Brent Maitland, Vice President of Private Market Sales and Marketing, MCI. “We mine our data and listen intently to our customers to make sure we are bringing product improvements that have the highest impact in terms quality, reliability, and the user experience. Our customers place their trust in us to build a reliable coach, and I’m confident that our recent improvements are reflective of that effort.”

In addition to the coach enhancements, ‘Team MCI’ is another pillar of the company’s promise to customers. MCI has recently expanded its customer support operations, adding new technical support specialists to its in-field and hotline support teams to resolve customer issues more quickly. MCI service centers have expanded their hours of operation in Dallas and added mobile service vehicles to support the Nashville and San Francisco markets. NFI Parts, which provides replacement parts for all MCI vehicles and others, has increased its inventory to better serve west coast markets, added new products, and is offering more competitive pricing on competitor coach parts. The MCI Training Academy has added more than 150 online courses to its programs. And MCI offers a wider range of pre-owned coaches with an enhanced inspection process.

“Buying a coach from MCI is not just about the vehicle but also the support, training, and service that comes with it,” added Maitland. “These are critical elements to maximizing coach uptime and achieving a lower total cost of ownership.”

MCI will host a customer appreciation event at its UMA EXPO booth #101 on Saturday, February 22, from 2:00-4:00 p.m. The company is also supporting the UMA EXPO welcome event and maintenance and driver competitions with a J4500 coach and volunteers. MCI will present the UMA Environmental Leadership Award, which it sponsors, during the Saturday evening awards gala.

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 over 9,100 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^® (motorcoaches), Alexander Dennis Limited (single- and double-deck buses), Plaxton (motorcoaches), 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 100,000 buses and coaches around the world. NFI’s common shares trade 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, nfi.parts, www.alexander-dennis.com, arbocsv.com, and carfaircomposites.com.

Forward-Looking Statement

This press release may contain forward-looking statements relating to expected future events and financial and operating results of NFI 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; production may be delayed or production rates may be decreased as a result of ongoing and future supply chain disruptions and shortages of parts and components, shipping and freight delays, and disruption to and shortage of labor supply; and the other risks and uncertainties discussed in the materials filed with the Canadian securities regulatory authorities and available on SEDAR at www.sedarplus.ca.  

Due to the potential impact of these factors, NFI 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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Bill Walter
P: 630.302.6440
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For investor inquiries, please contact: 
Stephen King 
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