NABI marks delivery, production milestones

[IMAGE]compo.jpg[/IMAGE]North American Bus Industries Inc. (NABI) marked multiple milestones this week, with order book statistics and production deliveries rolling at a record pace.

NABI recently delivered its 200th 45-foot CompoBus to the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) and its 100th standard-floor Model 416 to New Jersey Transit (NJ Transit). Metro also recently ordered 91 more CompoBuses, which marks its fourth follow-on order for the 45-foot low-floor composite buses and brings the total units ordered to 492.

The CompoBus is a high capacity and low maintenance vehicle made from a composite structure produced from resin-reinforced silicon and carbon fiber, which makes it tough to damage and rust- and corrosion-free. NABI delivered 100 buses to Metro two years earlier, then "idled" its composite production plant, later shifting assembly operations to its Alabama facilities. Production was re-started in April of last year and is achieving record volumes, according to the company.

NJ Transit recently put its 100th NABI 416 standard-floor suburban in service and has ordered 250 more, bringing the number ordered by NJ Transit to 500. The first 250 are to be commuter buses with high-back reclining seats. Then, the recently ordered additional 250 will be configured for city transit service. NJ Transit's contract with NABI stipulates additional deliveries of 250 next year; 250 the year after; and 145 in the contract's final year for a total of 1,145 vehicles.

In addition to this week's important delivery milestones and new orders with Metro and NJ Transit, NABI announced it has delivered additional orders for its articulated 60-BRT's (Nashville and Chapel Hill, N.C.); new orders for its 42-BRT (LA Airport and Foothill Transit); and 35-foot and 40-foot low-floor buses to numerous other customers with diesel, diesel-hybrid and CNG propulsion systems.

The increase in deliveries over the past few months represent production volumes not achieved since 2002, while NABI's Metro and NJ Transit contracts are the largest contracts the company has ever secured since it was incorporated in 1992.