09.10.18

Press Releases

New Flyer opens high tech bus part fabrication facility in Shepherdsville, KY

St. Cloud, Minnesota, USA – September 10, 2018: (TSX: NFI) New Flyer of America Inc. (“New Flyer”), the U.S. subsidiary of NFI Group Inc. (“NFI”), the largest transit bus and motor coach manufacturer and parts distributor in North America, announced today the official opening of a 300,000 square foot part fabrication facility in Shepherdsville, Kentucky.

The opening follows from New Flyer’s announcement in November 2017 to invest USD $28 million in the state and is expected to reach full capacity by the end of 2019, creating up to 550 jobs to Shepherdsville and the surrounding community.  This growth would increase the total NFI Group jobs in Kentucky to nearly 800, along with the NFI Parts headquarters and distribution center located in Louisville.

Governor Matt Bevin and Congressman Brett Guthrie delivered remarks at the ribbon cutting ceremony, and welcomed New Flyer to the community as a standout transportation advocate and leader in innovation, infrastructure, jobs and investment.

“Congratulations to New Flyer of America and the citizens of Bullitt County on the opening of this new facility in Shepherdsville,” Governor Bevin said. “This major project was part of a banner year for Kentucky economic development in 2017, which saw companies invest $9.2 billion to create more than 17,000 jobs. The economic engine of the commonwealth is at full throttle, and New Flyer is a significant part of our continued forward momentum to become America’s engineering and manufacturing hub of excellence.”

The Shepherdsville facility furthers NFI’s effort to insource part fabrication capability, and increases the company’s commitment to meet increased US Content requirements under Buy America provisions of the 2015 FAST Act.  The facility will immediately provide parts for the manufacture of New Flyer transit buses and MCI motor coaches, with intention to include parts for ARBOC Specialty Vehicle buses in future. Part fabrication processes in the new facility include: hose manufacture, injection molding and thermoforming plastics, metal fabrication and advanced machining, powder coating, and electrical component manufacture.

“I am honored to attend the New Flyer ribbon cutting today and to support businesses in Kentucky,” said Congressman Guthrie. “The Commonwealth is a great place to do business, and I am glad that New Flyer has chosen the Second District to open this state-of-the-art facility. This is an excellent investment for the Bullitt County community and I look forward to visiting again when this facility has reached full capacity.”

Facility build out was supported by tax incentives through the Kentucky Business Investment program. New Flyer also received resources from the Kentucky Skills Network, and worked closely with the Kentucky Economic Development and Bullitt County Economic Development teams.

“The efforts between New Flyer, the City of Shepherdsville, and the State of Kentucky has been a strong example of the power of public-private collaboration to drive jobs and innovation,” said Wayne Joseph, President of New Flyer of America. “With the opening of this facility, we not only have greater control and focus on improving supply quality for our buses and coaches, but we proudly invest in the future of American transportation through the augmentation of U.S. innovation, infrastructure and jobs.”

New Flyer has been leading transit innovation in North America for over 88 years. In 2017, it opened the Vehicle Innovation Center in Anniston, AL the first and only innovation lab of its kind dedicated to advancing electric and autonomous bus and coach technology. In 2018, New Flyer also became the first bus manufacturer in the world to sign on to the Shared Mobility Principles for Livable Cities.

About NFI

With nearly 6,000 team members, operating from 31 facilities across Canada and the United States, NFI is North America’s largest bus manufacturer providing a comprehensive suite of mass transportation solutions under several brands: New Flyer® (heavy-duty transit buses), ARBOC® (low-floor cutaway and medium-duty buses), MCI® (motor coaches), and NFI Parts™ (parts, support, and service). NFI buses incorporate the widest range of drive systems available including: clean diesel, natural gas, diesel-electric hybrid, and zero-emission electric (trolley, battery, and fuel cell).

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2017, NFI posted revenues of US $2.4 billion. NFI common shares are traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol NFI. News and information are available at www.nfigroup.com.

For further information, please contact:
Lindy Norris
P: 204.792.8424
[email protected]