Azure Formalizes Contract with StarTrans

Azure Dynamics Corp. of Toronto, Ontario, Canada, a developer of hybrid electric powertrains for commercial and military vehicles, has signed a definitive supply agreement to produce hybrid shuttle buses with StarTrans. Under the agreement, Azure will provide StarTrans with hybrid cab-chassis on which StarTrans will assemble its shuttle bus body at its manufacturing facilities in Goshen, Indiana. StarTrans intends to use its HD Senator Series model line of shuttle buses. When fully assembled, the Azure/StarTrans hybrid electric shuttle bus will be compliant with the U.S.'s Buy-America program and, after successful testing, would be eligible for the Federal Transit Administration's funding for bus purchases. "More than 10,000 shuttle buses are sold each year in North America," said Campbell Deacon, CEO of Azure Dynamics, "and with federal- and state-funded subsidi- zation programs available in the U.S. for shuttle bus operations, this sector represents a compelling opportunity for both Azure and StarTrans." Azure and StarTrans will commence joint marketing of the hybrid bus at Bus-Con in Chicago, October 23-25.