Grande West Announces First Buy America Transit Contract

Ronald Biggs, General Manager of Oxford University Transit stated, "When we first saw the Vicinity heavy-duty transit bus, we were impressed. Upon further inspection, the low floor design and perimeter seating configuration was perfect for the large number of students that board and disembark from our buses throughout the day. The heavy-duty components and impressive warranty were appealing to our customers at the City of Oxford Mississippi and Ole Miss University. When we discovered that the Vicinity was slightly narrower than most low-floor buses in this category it was clear that it would fit our needs very well. Oxford University transit operated by RATP Dev USA provides a large majority of service in and around the apartment complexes, where much of the student body resides. We expect the narrow body design and light radius to work well in our operating environment and improve our ability to operate."

Douglas Dunn, CEO of Alliance Bus Group commented, "We are honoured and excited to be working with RATP Dev USA, The City of Oxford and the other agencies included in this order. ABG has been diligently showcasing the Vicinity and now look forward to delivering Buy America buses into these fleets. We will continue to build on this momentum, as there are many other agencies across the country that will benefit from Vicinity’s lower capital and operating costs."

Jean-Marc Landry, CEO of Grande West stated, "The Grande West team is very excited to reach another important milestone in the Company’s growth. Our focused efforts on U.S. expansion and sales continue to gain traction. Much like our Canadian story, Grande West and ABG have partnered with transit in Mississippi where ‘Right-Sizing’ fleets with the Vicinity is a clear winning strategy for ridership and operations. We continue to work closely with ABG on building our sales pipeline of Buy America public transit orders, as well as sales to private operators."

About Grande West Transportation Group

Grande West is a Canadian company that designs, engineers and manufactures mid-size multi-purpose transit vehicles for public and commercial enterprises. Grande West’s Best-in-Class heavy-duty Vicinity bus is available in 27.5, 30 and 35 foot models powered by clean diesel or CNG designed with affordability, accessibility and global responsibility in mind. It costs significantly less than a regular 40 foot transit bus, is more maneuverable, burns less fuel and emits less harmful emissions. Grande West will soon be offering a new product which will be the first Crossover Vehicle in the transit space - a medium-duty, monocoque-designed rear engine vehicle.

The Company has been successful in supplying Canadian municipal transportation agencies and private operators with new buses and is receiving follow-on orders in many Canadian transit agencies. Grande West is compliant to Buy America certification, and along with Alliance Bus Group ("ABG"), its exclusive US distributor, is actively pursuing opportunities in public and private transit fleet operations that would benefit from Grande West’s vehicles.

For further information please contact:

Grande West Transportation 
John LaGourgue
VP Corporate Development 
Ph: 1-604-607-4000 
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 
www.grandewest.com

Neither the TSX-V nor its Regulation Service Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX-V) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This press release includes certain "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" (collectively "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein, including without limitation, statements regarding the use of proceeds from the Private Placement, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are frequently, but not always, identified by words such as "expects”, "anticipates”, "believes", "intends", "estimates", "potential", "possible", and similar expressions, or statements that events, conditions, or results "will", "may", "could", or "should” occur or be achieved. Forward-looking statements involve various risks and uncertainties. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements.

Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from Grande West’s expectations include uncertainties relating to the receipt of final approval from the TSX-V; and other risk and uncertainties disclosed in Grande West’s reports and documents filed with applicable securities regulatory authorities from time to time. Grande West’s forward-looking statements reflect the beliefs, opinions and projections on the date the statements are made. Grande West assumes no obligation to update the forward-looking statements or beliefs, opinions, projections, or other factors, should they change, except as required by law.

SOURCE: Grande West Transportation Group Inc.