Metrotrans Corporation Has Been Appointed Exclusive Agent For Irizar Coaches
11 September 1997
Metrotrans Corporation Has Been Appointed Exclusive Agent For Irizar Coaches
GRIFFIN, Ga., Sept. 10 -- Metrotrans Corporation
and Irizar S. Coop. of Spain announced the appointment of
Metrotrans as the exclusive marketing, sales and service agent in North
America and all United States territories for the Irizar line of full-size
coaches. Emphasis will be placed on Irizar's Century coach which will be
produced in special American versions, 40-foot length (50 passengers plus
driver) and 45-foot length (58 passengers plus driver). Prior to the
appointment of Metrotrans, the Irizar Coach has not been available in the
U.S.A.
Irizar is one of the oldest coach builders in the world with continuous
production since 1889. Irizar is owned by Mondragon Corporation Cooperativa,
one of Spain's largest business group corporations with annual revenues in
excess of five (5) billion dollars (US). The Century coach has been in
production since 1991 and has received numerous Coach of the Year awards in
Europe, including 1996 Coach of the Year in Great Britain and Spain. Irizar
was the first European coach builder to obtain ISO 9001 certification.
The Metrotrans American version of the Century coach will feature
drivetrain and suspension components made in the U.S.A. and whose names have
become industry standards - Detroit Diesel, Cummins, Allison and Rockwell.
Commenting on the announcement, Metrotrans' Chairman and Chief Executive
Officer, Michael Walden said, "Irizar is an international company with an
unparalleled reputation for quality on several continents. In addition to
their main manufacturing facility in Spain, they currently have coach
assembly plants in Asia and Africa. Irizar has been guarded in their approach
to the United States market due to the market's well-known special
requirements. After almost two years of negotiation, we are delighted to have
been chosen as the company responsible for the introduction of the Century
coach in North America. The United States full-size coach market is in excess
of a billion dollars a year with three primary suppliers. With our excellent
reputation for service and quality and Irizar's world-renowned commitment to
excellence, I believe a partnership has been created which will add
significant value to the coach operator and result in excellent penetration of
the Century product in the coach market. This addition to our line of buses,
furthers our goal of becoming America's Bus Company offering models which
accommodate 9 to 59 passengers, in the North American market. Our leadership
in the commercial sector of the bus industry was very important to Irizar in
the decision-making process. This will truly position us to offer more value
to our customers and shareholders."
Commenting on the announcement, Koldo Saratxaga, General Manager of Irizar
stated, "Our steadfast performance in Europe and our stellar reception in the
UK market convinced us that our export strategy was correct. Since 1991, the
most demanding European markets in the sector: Germany, France, the United
Kingdom, Italy and Greece, not only accepted the Century coach but awarded the
vehicle some of the most prestigious prizes in Europe. In our quest to tackle
the United States market we needed a very special U.S. company who shared our
vision for unsurpassed quality, customer service and innovative product
offerings to act as an agent for Irizar. Metrotrans Corporation had not only
these qualities but the organizational integrity to ensure our mutual success.
We are very pleased with our choice of Metrotrans for U.S. representation and
believe the Century coach reception in the United States will equal our
triumph in the United Kingdom."
This press release includes "forward-looking statements" within the
meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such
statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors
that could cause the actual results of the Company to differ materially from
the results expressed or implied by such statements, including general
economic and business conditions, conditions affecting the Company's customers
and suppliers, competitor response to the Company's products and services, the
overall market acceptance of such products and services, and other factors
disclosed in the company's last filed Annual Report. Accordingly, although
the Company believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking
statements are reasonable, there can be no assurance that such expectations
will prove to be correct.
Metrotrans Corporation designs, manufactures and distributes shuttle and
mid-size touring buses through Company-operated sales centers and independent
distributors in the United States, Europe, Canada, and Puerto Rico.
SOURCE Metrotrans Corporation