~ Natural Gas Powered Ford F-450 and F-550 Available in
2013 ~
VANCOUVER,
Dec. 3, 2012 /PRNewswire/ - Westport
Innovations Inc. (TSX:WPT) (NASDAQ:WPRT), the global leader in
natural gas engines, today announced that it will expand its
product offerings with the introduction of natural gas powered
versions of the Ford F-450 and F-550 Super Duty trucks in mid-2013.
The new product additions will complement the already proven
Westport WiNG™ System powered Ford F-250 and F-350 trucks.
"The timing is right. Our CNG bifuel systems for Ford F-250 and
F-350 trucks have been very well received and as a result, our
customers are making increasing requests for customized options and
natural gas trucks with higher gross weights," said John Lapetz, Vice President, North America
Vehicle Programs, Westport LD.
A leader in responding to market and customer demands,
Westport's is expanding its
product line to further serve delivery and utility companies,
energy-industry fleets and government. The new 2013 F-450 and F-550
trucks will be built at the Westport Kentucky Integration Center
(WKIC), an exclusive Ford Qualified Vehicle Modifier (QVM) audited
facility, located adjacent to Ford Motor Company's Kentucky Truck Plant. Consistent with the WiNG
System powered F-250s and F-350s that are currently built at WKIC,
the new models will be assembled using a fully integrated system
and will undergo the same rigorous validation for safety and
durability used by Ford. Trucks will be delivered using the Ford
transportation system providing cost efficiencies in delivery to
the end customer.
Westport is also currently
developing relationships with service body companies to offer
installation of second unit bodies on its F-250 and F-350 pickup
trucks. In addition to the installation of the Westport WiNG™ System, customers may now
choose the option to install second unit bodies with a single ship
through, saving significant time and delivery costs. These service
body options will also be available on the new F-450 and F-550
models.
Westport continues to be the
market leader in helping to drive down the cost of natural gas
vehicles. The Westport WiNG™ System is already priced at an
industry-leading $9,500, making
natural gas vehicles (NGVs) more affordable and accessible for U.S.
truck fleets. The new natural gas powered Ford F-450 and F-550
Super Duty truck models will be offered at an equally competitive
price, saving fleets between 25 and 40 percent in fuel costs with
positive payback demonstrated in two years. The new models will be
available exclusively through Westport's authorized Ford dealerships giving
customers the fully integrated OEM ownership experience they have
come to expect with Westport.
About Westport Innovations Inc.
Westport Innovations Inc. is a leading global supplier of
proprietary solutions that allow engines to operate on
clean-burning fuels such as compressed natural gas (CNG), liquefied
natural gas (LNG), hydrogen, and renewable natural gas (RNG) fuels
such as landfill gas and helps reduce greenhouse gas emissions
(GHG). Westport technology offers
advanced LNG fueling systems with direct injection natural gas
engine technology for heavy-duty vehicles such as highway trucks
and off-road applications such as mining and rail.
Westport's joint venture with
Cummins Inc., Cummins Westport Inc. designs, engineers and markets
spark-ignited natural gas engines for North American transportation
applications such as trucks and buses. Westport LD division is one
of the global leaders for natural gas and liquefied petroleum gas
(LPG) fuel in passenger cars, light-duty trucks and industrial
applications such as forklifts. To learn more about our business,
visit our website or subscribe to our RSS feed at www.westport.com,
or follow us on Twitter @WestportWPRT.
Note: This document contains forward-looking
statements about Westport's
business, operations, technology development or the environment in
which it operates, which are based on Westport's estimates, forecasts and
projections. These statements include specifically, statements
regarding the timing for introduction of the natural gas versions
of the Ford F-450 and F-550 trucks, the price of natural gas
and savings and payback period based on a conversion to natural gas
as a transportation fuel. These statements are not guarantees
of future performance, are based on a number of assumptions and
involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties that are
difficult to predict, or are beyond Westport's control including the development
of competing products and technologies, availability and supply of
natural gas, price and supply of gasoline, timing for
certifications, timing of execution of agreements with
distributors, and other risk factors and assumptions that may
affect our actual results, performance or achievements.
Consequently, readers should not place any undue reliance on such
forward-looking statements. In addition, these forward-looking
statements relate to the date on which they are made. Westport disclaims any intention or obligation
to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a
result of new information, future events or otherwise except as
required by National Instrument 51-102. The contents of any
website, RSS feed or Twitter account referenced in this press
release are not incorporated by reference herein.
SOURCE Westport Innovations Inc.