NFI subsidiary Alexander Dennis announces contract with BC Transit for 29 double deck buses

LARBERT, United Kingdom, May 24, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- (TSX: NFI, OTC: NFYEF, TSX: NFI.DB) NFI Group Inc. (NFI or the Company), a leading independent bus and coach manufacturer and a leader in electric mass mobility solutions, subsidiary Alexander Dennis Limited (Alexander Dennis) today announced that it has received a firm order for 29 Enviro500 double deck buses from BC Transit in British Columbia, Canada.

BC Transit is a provincial government corporation that provides planning, marketing, fleet, and funding support for all transit services in British Columbia outside of the Metro Vancouver region. BC Transit works in partnership with 59 local governments and operates 57 transit systems.

The new Enviro500 will be built as part of the partnership between Alexander Dennis and Big Rig Manufacturing. They will be supported in operation by Alexander Dennis’s own staff as well as through the wider NFI Parts organization.

When the new buses are delivered next year, they will mark the 25th anniversary since BC Transit became an industry innovator by placing the first double deck buses into transit service in North America as part of the Victoria Regional Transit System. BC Transit continues to use double deck vehicles as their high-capacity bus of choice and including the latest order, it has now bought over 110 double deck buses.

The upcoming vehicles will replace earlier BC Transit double deck buses that have reached the end of their operating lives, a process that began in 2021. This has already seen the very first Alexander Dennis double decker in North America retired and repatriated to the United Kingdom, where it will be preserved as part of the manufacturer’s heritage fleet.

BC Transit President & CEO Erinn Pinkerton said: “BC Transit is proud of our continued partnership with Alexander Dennis. This new order of 29 Alexander Dennis Enviro500 buses will help ensure we are able to keep our essential transit services running efficiently for our valued customers. Transit ridership continues to grow in British Columbia, and we look forward to these buses going into service next year.”

Stephen Walsh, Vice-President North America for Alexander Dennis, said: “BC Transit made history in 2000 when it introduced the first double deck buses into transit service in North America. We are extremely proud to have been part of this journey from day one and to continue to work in partnership with BC Transit with this latest order for more Enviro500 double deckers.”