Press Release Details

Program provides signatories tangible roadmap for advancing racial equity; coalesces greater movement toward equity, diversity, and inclusion in public transit

St. Cloud, Minnesota, USA – February 23, 2022: (TSX: NFI, OTC: NFYEF, TSX: NFI.DB) NFI Group Inc. (“NFI”), a leading independent bus and coach manufacturer and a leader in electric mass mobility solutions, today announced that its subsidiary New Flyer of America Inc. (“New Flyer”) has signed onto the American Public Transportation Association’s (“APTA”) Racial Equity Commitment Program.

The two-year pilot program, launched late 2021, provides signatories with a tangible roadmap that advances racial equity through five core principles. The principles include making equity a strategic priority, conducting a climate assessment, providing dedicated resources and engagement, implementing policies and programs, and reviewing and analyzing demographic data. There are currently 28 signatories to the program.

“Joining APTA’s Racial Equity Commitment was an easy decision. Our industry must reflect the communities we serve, and to achieve that we must advance racial equity. The program’s core principles are already integral to our current business and will continue to be well into the future,” said Chris Stoddart, President, North American Bus and Coach. “While we have a solid foundation, advancing racial equity is a journey and not a destination. New Flyer remains committed to investing in and advancing racial equity, and we encourage our industry peers to sign on and signal they are doing the same.”

In 2020, New Flyer introduced its Community Benefits Framework, a national initiative to build workforce development, diversity, and inclusion. Shortly after, New Flyer launched the Anniston Workforce Development Program (“AWDP”), a local workforce development program focused on providing meaningful employment and advancement opportunities for underrepresented, underserved, or disadvantaged communities. Learn more here. In 2020, New Flyer cofounded the first Canadian and first international chapter of the Conference of Minority Transportation Officials (“COMTO”), the voice for equity in transportation, by launching COMTO Toronto and Region. In 2021, it was named the Emerging Chapter of the Year by COMTO International. New Flyer is also a current partner, member, and supporter of Latinos in Transit (“LIT”).

APTA members can sign onto the Racial Equity Commitment Program until March 31, 2022. Following the pilot program, APTA will publish a report with analysis of the initial experience and recommendations for improving the commitment program, including establishing standardized metrics, identifying essential resources, and determining how to structure recognition levels to measure and reward progress in advancing racial equity.  

As a subsidiary of NFI, New Flyer aligns with NFI commitments to advancing and celebrating equity, diversity, and inclusion, including fulfilling Canada’s 50-30 Challenge, supporting Truth and Reconciliation, providing meaningful employment opportunities for disadvantaged communities, and more. Learn more at nfigroup.com/esg.

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 New Flyer

New Flyer is North America’s heavy-duty transit bus leader and offers the most advanced product line under the Xcelsior® and Xcelsior CHARGE® brands. It also offers infrastructure development through NFI Infrastructure Solutions™, a service dedicated to providing safe, sustainable, and reliable charging and mobility solutions. New Flyer actively supports over 35,000 heavy-duty transit buses (New Flyer, NABI, and Orion) currently in service, of which 8,600 are powered by electric motors and battery propulsion and 1,900 are zero-emission. Further information is available at www.newflyer.com.

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