CANADA POST SELECTS FORD TRANSIT CONNECT TO REPLACE AGING NATIONAL FLEET OF LIGHT VEHICLES

2010 Ford Transit Connect
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• Through an open and competitive RFP process, Canada Post has selected the Ford Transit Connect to begin replacing its aging national fleet of vehicles and modernize its business. In total this year, 1,175 Ford Transit Connect vans will be purchased.
• Purpose-built for business owners, the Ford Transit Connect is a versatile compact van that offers a fuel-efficient alternative to full-size commercial vans.
• With its standard 2.0-litre, four-cylinder engine and automatic transmission, Transit Connect delivers best-in-class fuel economy of 30 mpg city, 36 mpg highway.
• Environmental impact, employee health and safety requirements, performance, capacity and total lifecycle costs (purchase, fuel consumption and maintenance) were among the key requirements for Canada Post.

OAKVILLE, Ont., March 18, 2010 – Through an open and competitive RFP process, Canada Post has selected Ford Transit Connect to begin replacing its aging national fleet of light vehicles and modernize its business, Ford Motor Company of Canada, Limited, announced today. In total this year, 1,175 Ford Transit Connect vans will be purchased. This is the largest fleet sale of Ford Transit Connect vehicles in Canada to date.

Criteria such as environmental impact, employee health and safety requirements, performance, capacity and total lifecycle costs (purchase, fuel consumption and maintenance) were essential in order to find a vehicle that best met Canada Post’s needs. The Ford Transit Connect is used by a number of Post Offices around the world and is well-suited for Canadian roads and winters.

It was named the 2010 North American Truck of the Year at the North American International Auto Show and has won numerous international awards.

"At Ford we are dedicated to delivering quality, safe and fuel efficient vehicles to Canadian businesses – and the Ford Transit Connect delivers on all fronts," said David Mondragon, president and CEO, Ford of Canada. "The versatility of the vehicle will allow employees to work more efficiently, and the fuel economy delivered by the Transit Connect will help bring Canada Post one step closer to achieving important environmental goals."

"We are pleased with the outcome and look forward to the delivery of our first vehicles as we begin to replace many of our aging light vehicles, with vehicles that are much more efficient and environmentally-friendly," says Bill Michalopulos, general manager, Sourcing Management at Canada Post. “It will also help our efforts to modernize our operations as we introduce motorization to our delivery routes.”

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