Governor Pataki Visits Orion Bus Industries To Celebrate 500-Unit Hybrid Bus Order

Incentive Package Will Keep Jobs in Oriskany, NY

ORISKANY, N.Y., Oct. 18 -- New York Governor George E. Pataki along with other state and local officials today joined with the staff of Orion Bus Industries here to celebrate the mutual commitment of Orion to New York and the state to this division of DaimlerChrysler Commercial Buses North America and the retention of the 500 jobs at the facility here in Oneida County.

Orion recently received an order for 500 hybrid diesel/electric buses for New York City, with an option for an additional 389, from the Metropolitan Transit Authority and New York City Transit. Thanks to an incentive package from Empire State Development and other state agencies, these buses, like the first 325 hybrids produced by Orion for New York City, will be produced within the state's borders.

"We appreciate this commitment the Governor and the state of New York has made to Orion Bus Industries," said Andreas Strecker, DCCBNA President and Chief Executive Officer. "And we are proud to continue our partnership with New York City Transit and the Metropolitan Transit Authority Bus as we have mutually pioneered the hybrid technology into a viable propulsion option for city buses."

"Orion has established itself as the leading manufacturer of diesel electric hybrid buses in North America," added Strecker. "This order further solidifies our commitment to the market through our investments in products and technology."

Orion, along with partner BAE Systems, producer of the HybriDrive(R) series hybrid propulsion system, is the leading brand of hybrid buses worldwide, with more than 300 units in revenue service and 700 more units on order for The Toronto Transit Commission, San Francisco MUNI and New York City Transit/MTA Bus.

Compared to standard diesel propulsion, the hybrid units have shown better fuel economy while reducing emissions. Drivers enjoy faster acceleration and customers experience a smoother ride free of the frequent transmission shifts encountered in conventional buses.

Orion operates production facilities here and Mississauga, Ont. DaimlerChrysler Commercial Buses North America, based in Greensboro, N.C., produces and markets a wide range of commercial bus and coach products under the Orion, Setra, and Dodge Sprinter brands. It is a unit of DaimlerChrysler, the world's leading manufacturer of buses and coaches for Class 6 and higher, with more than 32,000 chassis and complete buses produced annually for revenue of more than $4.3 billion. For more information, visit http://www.orionbus.com/ or http://www.dcbusna.com/.