Vicinity Motor Corp. and ADASTEC to Deploy Automated Transit Buses at Michigan State University

VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / October 9, 2023 / Vicinity Motor Corp. (NASDAQ:VEV)(TSXV:VMC) ("Vicinity" or the "Company"), a North American supplier of commercial electric vehicles, today announced that it has entered into an agreement to deploy an SAE level-4 vehicle, the Vicinity Autonomous Lightning Electric transit bus, at Michigan State University in conjunction with automated driving software platform provider ADASTEC Corporation.

Per the terms of the agreement, the vehicle deployment will take place at the MSU East Lansing Campus in the second quarter of 2024, showcasing Vicinity's next-generation electric transit bus outfitted with ADASTEC's cutting edge automated transportation technology. This landmark initiative is set to be the first of its kind in North America.

ADASTEC's journey at MSU began in August 2021 when the company initiated passenger services using SAE Level-4 automated driving software technology, making history as the one and only full-size automated bus deployed on public roads in the U.S. to transport passengers within the MSU community. The service covered a 4.6-mile route, including seven intersections, pedestrian crossings, and a bicycle lane, all while maintaining a maximum speed of 25 mph. This groundbreaking initiative, equipped with Signal Phase and Timing (SPAT) technology with the vision of shared and connected transportation to improve rider comfort and energy efficiency, quickly became a testament to the future of campus transit.

Adam S. Lawver, Director of Campus Services at Michigan State University, said: "The partnership between ADASTEC and MSU's Infrastructure, Planning, and Facilities team has created the opportunity to learn and assess the performance of mobility infrastructure assets MSU installed to advance the operational deployment of the automated bus on MSU's East Lansing campus. It is exciting to continue this important work for not only improving the MSU campus mobility infrastructure, but to help other entities learn from our deployment, so they can build upon and advance to further stages of their respective mobility efforts."

Dr. Ali, Chief Executive Officer of ADASTEC, added: "ADASTEC, in partnership with Michigan State University, has taken its mission to redefine transportation to the next level with Vicinity Motor Corporation and our SAE level-4 technology suite. This collaboration introduces automated electric buses to the dynamic U.S. market, leveraging our global deployment experience. This journey symbolizes our unwavering commitment to innovation and its contribution to the evolution of mobility solutions within the MSU ecosystem."