Blue Bird Showcases Range of Commercial Propane Autogas Buses at BusCon 2016

INDIANAPOLIS (September 19, 2016) — Commercial bus fleet operators looking for innovative, quality, and affordable transportation will find many options at the Blue Bird booth (501) at BusCon 2016, (Indiana Convention Center, Sept. 19-21) where the bus industry meets each year for business. Blue Bird will showcase a full range of small and medium-sized buses delivering excellent fuel economy, enhanced driver visibility and improved passenger comfort.

“At Blue Bird, we’re proud of our 90-year history of building buses to the most stringent safety and quality standards,” says Phil Horlock, president and CEO of Blue Bird. “Our commercial line customers always get the best of the best in terms of chassis and body construction and safety, so they can transport their passengers comfortably and safely, year after year.”

Blue Bird commercial buses provide a unique value proposition to customers, with lower maintenance and repair costs, higher uptime and extended years of service. These benefits will be featured in the Blue Bird buses on display at BusCon:

• Blue Bird Vision: Available in four different fuel types, this versatile bus line features a fuel-efficient Ford 6.8L gasoline, propane autogas or compressed natural gas (CNG) engine or a Cummins ISB6.7 diesel engine, and a six-speed automatic transmission. The Vision provides best-in-class forward visibility and exceptional mirror systems that improve driver awareness and increase the safety of passengers around the bus. Blue Bird Vision buses seat up to 48 passengers.
• Blue Bird T3RE: Available in diesel and CNG, this bus features a fuel-efficient Cummins ISB 6.7 or ISL 8.9 diesel engine, or a Cummins ISL-G CNG engine, and a five-speed automatic transmission. The engine’s rear location means convenient serviceability, extra cooling and higher power ratings and less noise. A wide stepwell makes boarding easy, especially with bulky carry-on items. The bus features one-piece steel roof bows, formed one-piece wheel wells, and full off-the-chassis undercoating. It seats up to 48 passengers and is available with hundreds of available options that add comfort and sophistication.
• Micro Bird D-Series MD: Specifically designed for the airport, parking, rental car and hotel markets, this new bus has a 42-inch middle door entrance, wide body with wide aisle, and a total of 74 inches of luggage rack space. It comes in a variety of configurations and accessibility options. Like all Micro Bird D-Series buses, the new bus features a steel structure, aluminum side panels and large-view windows. Micro Bird Commercial also offers an affordable propane solution in partnership with ROUSH CleanTech on the D-Series with a Ford 6.8L engine.
• Micro Bird CT-Series DLX: Built on the Ford transit chassis for 38 percent better fuel economy than other Type-A bus chassis, this bus has a lightweight frame and aerodynamic design. A luxury package with a sleek, modern, easy-to-maintain grey vinyl interior is available, as are a variety of passenger comfort and accessibility options. A 32-inch electric double-opening door comes standard.

“These buses are ready for the most rugged road conditions, with ‘crank every time’ confidence you won’t find anywhere else,” Horlock says, adding that many Blue Bird Commercial bus configurations have completed 10-year, 350,000-mile Altoona-testing.

Micro Bird commercial buses also are available through Blue Bird’s extensive network of dealers in the United States. Horlock noted that the partnership between the two companies focuses on giving bus dealers and their customers the best options in terms of safety, reliability, comfort and fuel-efficiency.

Blue Bird (Nasdaq: BLBD) has sold more than 550,000 buses since its formation in 1927 and has approximately 180,000 buses in operation today. In the early 1990s, Blue Bird developed a plan to build on its legacy and heritage in the bus market by providing customized, innovative and economical buses to all sectors of the commercial market, including transit, shuttle and tour

/charter.

Blue Bird’s longevity and reputation in the bus industry have made it an iconic American brand. Blue Bird distinguishes itself from its principal competitors by its singular focus on the design, engineering, manufacture and sale of buses and related parts. Blue Bird is recognized as an industry leader for bus innovation, safety, product quality/reliability/durability, operating costs and drivability. In addition, Blue Bird is the market leader in alternative fuel applications with its propane-powered and compressed natural gas-powered buses. Blue Bird manufactures buses at two facilities in Fort Valley, Georgia. Its Micro Bird joint venture operates a manufacturing facility in Drummondville, Quebec, Canada. Service and after-market parts are distributed from Blue Bird’s parts distribution center located in Delaware, Ohio.