For Immediate Release

For more information contact:
Steve Kratzer
Marketing and Business Development Representative
steve.kratzer@optimabus.com
316-779-7700 ext. 344

Optima Bus Corporation Partners with Commercial Bus Dealer BusWest

Wichita, KS – January 23, 2006 – Optima Bus Corporation is pleased to announce that it has partnered with BusWest, a commercial bus dealership headquartered near Los Angeles, Calif., to increase Optima's presence in California, Nevada, New Mexico, and Arizona.

"Optima is excited about this new partnership with BusWest because it will enable us to offer our quality, durable products to many new customers," said Michael Monteferrante, Chief Executive Officer of Optima Bus Corporation. "BusWest will significantly increase Optima's presence in California, Nevada, New Mexico, and Arizona, all of which represent important, forward-thinking transit markets."

BusWest has agreed to represent the modern-looking under 30' and under 35' Opus low-floor bus and the nostalgic American Heritage Streetcar. In addition, BusWest has purchased two under 30' Opus buses that will serve as demonstrator buses for the dealer.

BusWest currently operates facilities throughout California and Nevada, and is opening a sales office in Phoenix, Ariz. BusWest, a division of Los Angeles Freightliner, offers sales, parts, service and body shop services from nine facilities and over 450 employees throughout its service area. BusWest and its sister divisions are authorized warranty locations for Cummins, Detroit Diesel, Mercedes, Allison, Thomas Built school buses, and John Deere.

"We are proud to be named the first bus dealer in the country to represent Optima's line of transit vehicles," said William G. Webster Jr., President of BusWest. "Our customers demand high-quality, heavy-duty transit vehicles and both the Opus and American Heritage Streetcar fill the bill."

Optima Bus Corporation "transit tough" products - the revolutionary-designed Opus low-floor bus and nostalgic American Heritage Streetcar - have lived-up to their reputations with more than 175 Optima customers across the United States. For more information about Optima Bus Corporation, the Opus low-floor bus, or the American Heritage Streetcar, contact Melissa Noftsger at (316) 779-7700 or visit www.optimabus.com.

BusWest is a division of Los Angeles Freightliner. BusWest represents Starcraft Bus, Champion Bus, Ameritrans, and Thomas Built school buses. For more information, contact BusWest at (562) 404-8700 or visit www.buswest.com.