OAK PARK, Michigan,
February 2, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --
- Global orders of Transit Connect Electric exceed $32 million since its introduction
- New North American customers include orders through the General
Services Administration, Verizon, an internet company, a Northeast
university, a utility company and Ford Commercial Truck
dealerships
- New European customers include government authorities, and Ford
dealerships
Azure Dynamics Corporation (TSX: AZD)(OTC: AZDDF) ("Azure" or
the "Company"), a world leader in the development and production of
hybrid electric and electric components and powertrain systems for
light and medium duty commercial vehicles, today announced 45 new
Ford Transit Connect Electric sales, including 20 units in
Europe and 25 units in
North America, which includes six
initial units through the General Services Administration (the
"GSA") via Northside Ford in San Antonio,
TX, a four unit order from Verizon and a four unit order
from an internet company.
"We are pleased to have received several initial orders through
the GSA as various U.S. government agencies, affiliated companies
and military installations begin their procurement process for
fiscal 2012," said Scott Harrison,
Azure's CEO. "The Transit Connect Electric, offering low
operating costs and zero tailpipe emissions, is the ideal versatile
product that can serve a myriad of government fleet needs,
particularly within the Armed Services."
Since most commercial and government fleets spend a significant
portion of their operational costs on fuel alone, there has been a
dramatic surge in the demand for electrified alternatives.
These fleet operators are increasingly seen as the logical starting
point for electric vehicles due to typical drive cycles that
include travel on predictable, short-range, routes with frequent
stop and go driving that generally return to a central location at
the end of a drive cycle making for efficient and convenient
recharging over night.
"We are also pleased to see continued adoption among
universities and large companies, such as Verizon," continued
Harrison. "Fleet operators, big and small businesses and
colleges worldwide increasingly recognize the value the Transit
Connect Electric offers in helping them reduce cost and meet their
environmental goals."
Azure is a leading provider of electric drive technology for
light to medium-duty commercial fleet vehicles in North America and is the first authorized
provider of electric and hybrid electric solutions on Ford's market
leading light-and medium-duty commercial vehicles.
"With these new orders, our global Transit Connect Electric
sales exceed $32 million in less than
12 months of production," continued Harrison. "And, our
network of over 160 Ford dealers globally continues to drive our
sales growth while providing outstanding service for our
customers."
Azure Dynamics has agreements with over 160 Ford commercial
truck dealerships in key markets across North America, 90 of which support sales and
service activities for Transit Connect Electric and in six
countries throughout Europe
representing 13 dealerships with 57 store locations.
Transit Connect Electric expands its
customer base:
The 45 Transit Connect Electric vans announced today were sold
to a variety of customers across North
America and Europe as wells
as to a number of Ford commercial truck dealers who will use the
vans as customer demonstrators to increase awareness and
appreciation of the product. These sales include:
UNITED STATES
California
- Mission Valley Ford in
San Jose, CA (4 units)
- Kearny Pearson Ford in
San Diego, CA (1 unit)
- Trans West Ford in Fontana, CA (2 units)
- Frontier Ford in Santa Clara,
CA (1 unit)
- Siemens through East Bay Ford in Oakland, CA (1 unit)
Connecticut
- Norwich Public Utilities through Interstate Ford in
Hartford, CT (1 unit)
Florida
- Bartow Ford in Lakeland, FL (1 unit)
Georgia
- Peach County Ford in Byron, GA
(1 unit)
Massachusetts
- Verizon through Stoneham Ford in Stoneham, MA (4 units)
- Stoneham Ford in Stoneham, MA
(1 unit)
Texas
- Northside Ford in San Antonio,
TX (6 units through the GSA)
CANADA
- Boisvert Ford in Quebec (1unit)
- City of Hamilton ON through Oak-land Ford in Oakville, Ontario (1 unit)
GERMANY
- Sachsengarage Ford in Dresden,
Germany (1 unit)
- Kuttendreier Ford in Munich,
Germany (1 unit)
- Sigg& Still Ford in Augsburg, Germany ( 1 unit)
- KADEA Ford in Berlin, Germany
(1 unit)
- Pfohe Siemens Ford in Nuremburg, Germany (1 unit)
NETHERLANDS
- Ardea Ford in Netherlands (7
units)
- Dutch Royal Family through Ardea Ford in the Netherlands (1 unit)
NORWAY
- RohneSelmer Ford in Norway (4
units)
UNITED KINGDOM
- Brighton Council through Ford Retail in the UK, (3 units)
The Transit Connect Electric utilizes an advanced lithium-ion
battery from Johnson Controls to achieve a range of 50 to 80 miles
depending on auxiliary usage and drive cycle and is rechargeable
using either a 240-volt or standard 120-volt outlet.
Commercial vans generally return to a central location at the end
of each driving cycle making for easy overnight recharging.
Use of the vehicles will also reduce fuel and maintenance costs, as
well as reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
For more information on how Azure Dynamics powertrains are
'Driving a World of Difference,' please visit
http://www.azuredynamics.com.
About Azure Dynamics
Azure Dynamics Corporation (TSX: AZD)(OTC: AZDDF) is a world
leader in the development and production of hybrid electric and
electric components and powertrain systems for light and medium
duty commercial vehicles. Azure is strategically targeting the
commercial delivery vehicle and shuttle bus markets and is
currently working internationally with a variety of partners and
customers. The Company is committed to providing customers
and partners with innovative, cost-efficient, and
environmentally-friendly energy management solutions. For
more information please visit http://www.azuredynamics.com.
The TSX Exchange does not accept
responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
Forward-Looking Statements
Advisory
Certain information included in this press release
constitutes forward-looking statements and information and
future-oriented financial information under applicable securities
legislation and is provided for the purpose of expressing
management's current expectations and plans for the
future. Readers are cautioned that reliance on such
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making investment decisions.
More particularly, this press release
contains statements concerning Azure's anticipated: business
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For further information:JurisPagrabs, Vice President, Investor
Relations, +1-248-298-2403 ext 7570,
Email: jpagrabs@azuredynamics.com
