MEDIA CENTER
MCI turns 80 committed to Reliability Driven; MCI® J4500 ranked number one in 4th quarter
SCHAUMBURG, IL — January 21, 2013 —
Reliability Driven is shaping up to mean a number of things, including
reliably being Number One. MCI is pleased to announce that the J4500 has
once again topped the National Bus Trader sales survey for the fourth
quarter of 2012, which means MCI can claim the industry's best-selling
coach for nine years straight. The D4500 and D4505 were right there too,
coming in at numbers three and five, respectively.
That's quite a birthday present. MCI is marking its
80th year in 2013, and like many big birthdays, it's been a time of
self-evaluation, and of making bigger plans for the future.
As MCI marks its milestone anniversary, it is
rededicating itself to building the most reliable coaches in North
America. The slogan "MCI-Reliability Driven™" reflects the company's
promise to design, build and deliver expertly engineered coaches with
top-quality components, the latest safety and security features and
unsurpassed parts availability and service.
There's a new corporate culture at MCI as
Business Excellence management teams are implementing Quality-At-Source
practices at the company's multi-facility ISO 9001:2008 certification
plants to consistently turn out world-class products and marketplace
innovations. "We are working every day to make this company better,"
said Rich Heller, MCI President and CEO. "We have a well-trained
workforce dedicated to meeting and surpassing the needs of our customers
on a daily basis."
Growing Strategically, Growing Smart:
Already the leading builder of intercity
coaches in the U.S. and Canada, MCI announced the completion of its
acquisition of Setra's U.S. and Canadian operations and established a
strategic partnership with Daimler Buses (Daimler) on July 2, 2012.
These important moves gave MCI responsibility for sales and service
support of Setra S 417 and Setra S 407 motor coach models and Setra
pre-owned coach inventory; the distribution of Setra and related genuine
Daimler Buses parts; and operation of Setra's Orlando-based service
center. Daimler also acquired a minority ownership position in MCI,
forming an engineering, technology and manufacturing alliance as part of
the transaction.
The bottom line? "We've already sent an MCI
team to Germany and will use what we've learned to benefit our own
manufacturing capabilities," said Heller. "At the same time, we've
successfully integrated $4 million in Setra parts inventory into our
Louisville parts distribution center and have trained our technicians on
Setra models."
And They Love Our Looks
Customers have made the MCI J4500 a bestseller
for eight years running, and now MCI is giving operators new reasons to
add the 2013 J4500 to fleets — including some eye-catching style
changes. Working with BMW Group Designworks USA — the team that gave the
market-leading J4500 its unprecedented curb appeal — MCI will continue
to refine the look and feel of its luxury coaches inside and out in 2013
and beyond.
Safety First, Safety Always
MCI continues to be a leader in the market in
important safety and performance features. MCI was the first
manufacturer to offer optional three-point passenger seatbelts, and all
its models now feature Electronic Stability Control, SmartWave®
tire-pressure monitoring and a fire suppression system as standard
features.
New Standards of Accessibility, Convenience and Comfort
The economy and environment are redefining the
way people travel. That's good for the motor coach industry, and it's
especially good for MCI. Today's private and municipal transportation
systems are looking to coach transport as the most flexible, affordable
and greenest option for passengers who want to make the most of their
money and time. That's why MCI is investing in the latest onboard
amenities that turn riders into lifetime customers: Wi-Fi, power outlets
and flat-screen monitors to keep riders engaged, entertained and
productive.
And that goes for everyone. First in the market
to offer an optional wheelchair lift, MCI remains dedicated to make
accessibility possible for all.
Coaches That are Cleaner and Greener
One fully occupied motor coach can displace as
many as 56 passenger cars from crowded highways. And when it comes to
carbon dioxide (CO2) per passenger mile, coaches pollute far less than
trains, planes or cars. But that's only where the good news starts.
MCI's new coach models are powered by the newest generation of
clean-diesel engine technology that promises near-zero emissions to
protect air quality.
Fuel efficiency is getting better as well.
MCI's optimized engine system offers increased fuel savings by double
digits in some applications. MCI is also the only intercity coach
builder to offer an over-the-road highway coach in clean-diesel, Hybrid
and CNG. Its Commuter Coach, marketed to Public Transit, is also Buy
America compliant and Altoona-tested.
Coaches That Serve Virtually Every Customer and Purpose
For almost any operator need, MCI has a coach,
serving the following markets: Tour and Charter, Scheduled and Curb-Side
Services, Public Transit and Pre-owned.
The Early Years
MCI traces its roots to Winnipeg, Manitoba,
Canada, where, in 1933, repair shop owner Harry Zoltok introduced his
first vehicle design, an 11-passenger body on a Packard chassis,
sketched for his workers on the factory floor. It was that moment that
the company then known as Fort Garry Motor Body and Paint Works Limited
began a journey of growth and innovation.
The company took the name Motor Coach
Industries in 1941 and remained a small regional builder until 1948,
when Greyhound of Canada acquired 65 percent of the company. Ten years
later, in 1958, Greyhound acquired the entire company, leading to some
of the greatest advancements in models ever, including the very first
40-foot coach, the MC-6, which evolved into the MC-9, the nation's
all-time best-selling coach until a few years ago, when its record was
eclipsed by the MCI D-Series.
In 1963, MCI opened its Pembina, North Dakota,
plant and entered the U.S. market. In 1987, the Greyhound Dial Corp.
sold Greyhound Lines, and the two companies were officially separated.
In 1993, Dial sold MCI as well. MCI moved its headquarters to Des
Plaines, Illinois, in 1996 and to nearby Schaumburg in 2000.
Recent Capabilities
MCI introduced a new era in motor coach
manufacturing with the 1997 launch of the luxurious E4500. In 2001, MCI
launched the MCI J4500 model and renamed its existing models. The
Renaissance became the E4500, and the D-Series 45-foot and 40-foot
models became known as the D4500 and D4000, respectively. Today, MCI
continues its focus on merging luxury and eco-friendliness with low cost
of operation.
In addition to its manufacturing activities,
MCI is also the leading supplier of coach and bus replacement parts from
its massive parts distribution facility in Louisville, Kentucky, and
operates six sales centers and seven MCI service centers.
About MCI
With headquarters in Schaumburg, Illinois, MCI is
the leading manufacturer of intercity coaches in the U.S. and Canada.
Reliability Driven, MCI builds expertly engineered models offering the
lowest cost of ownership, including the best-selling J4500 and D-Series
models, for the tour, charter, line-haul, commuter and transit markets.
MCI is also the distributor of the Setra S 417, Setra S 407 and Setra
parts in the U.S. and Canada. The company offers 24-hour technical
support and industry-leading technician training along with the market's
most extensive aftermarket parts and repair service.
Press contact: Patricia Plodzeen Public Relations, 847-283-0883; or Motor Coach Industries Marketing Department, 847-285-2035.
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