For Immediate Release

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

Wichita-area manufacturer to build hybrid buses

Wichita, KS – February 8, 2005 – Optima Bus Corp. announced Tuesday that it has begun working on a hybrid-electric powered bus that is expected to save up to 50 percent in fuel costs.

The bus is a version of the company's Opus low-floor bus and will be available in the under 30-feet and under 35-feet models.

Company officials say they expect sales of the hybrid bus to be 40 percent of Optima's total sales volume by 2009.

A prototype is planned to be ready in May.

All the assembly of the buses will be done at Optima's Park City facility, 1601 E. 77th N., about 15 minutes north of Wichita.

By Lainie Mazzullo From the Wichita Business Journal