Azure Dynamics Europe Signs Agreement with Hugo Pfohe Network of Ford Dealerships in Northern Germany
By Azure Dynamics Corporation, PRNEMonday, June 13, 2011
OAK PARK, Michigan, June 14, 2011 -
Dealer to represent innovative Ford
Transit Connect Electric to commercial fleet customers
- The Hugo Pfohe GmbH network of 10 Ford dealerships in Northern
Germany will represent Transit Connect Electric with sales and
service agreement - Ford Transit Connect Electric now available in Germany, Norway,
and U.K., with additional country announcements forthcoming - European assembly and shipments of Transit Connect Electric
vans to begin this week
Azure Dynamics Corporation (TSX: AZD)(OTC: AZDDF) and Ford
Europe announced today that Hugo Pfohe GmbH will be the first
German dealership group for sales and service of the Ford Transit
Connect Electric van. Transit Connect Electric will be
available through Pfohe’s 10 Ford dealerships across Northern
German.
“With our European Transit Connect Electric manufacturing set to
commence this week, it’s critical that we organize a network of
Ford dealerships for representation across Europe,” said Ricardo
Espinosa, Azure’s managing director in Europe. “The Pfohe
Group has 90 years experience successfully representing Ford
products to private and fleet customers and will be a valuable
partner in presenting the Transit Connect Electric to German
commercial fleet customers.”
Philip Pfohe, general manager of Hugo Pfohe GmbH, also serves as
the Chairman of the European Ford Dealer Association.
“It is vital that future transportation can be achieved in a
more environmentally positive manner,” said Pfohe. “To our
knowledge, Transit Connect Electric is the best product in class to
enable our customers to achieve their transportation needs with the
environmental benefits of electric power. With a number of
companies interested in understanding the potential of Transit
Connect Electric, backed by German government support for electric
vehicles in general, we believe that this vehicle is being
introduced at exactly the right time.”
With a unique combination of car-like driving dynamics, rugged
load capacity and low operating costs, the Transit Connect Electric
van is an ideal choice for German commercial fleet operators
looking to reduce operational costs and lessen their impact on the
environment.
German Chancellor
recently committed to having one million electric cars on German
roads by 2020.
Azure’s strategy in Europe is to establish partnerships with
carefully selected Ford dealerships to offer high quality sales and
service activities in support of Transit Connect Electric. To
that end, Transit Connect Electric will now be available via Hugo
Pfohe stores in Hamburg (three stores), Schwerin (two stores), Bad
Segeberg, Norderstedt, Lübeck, Kiel and Oldenburg. Pfohe also
operates a fully-owned subsidiary in Bulgaria (Moto-Pfohe).
To create the Transit Connect Electric, Azure integrates its
proven Force Drive[TM]electric
powertrain into the award-winning Ford Transit Connect. Utilizing
an advanced lithium-ion battery, Transit Connect Electric can
achieve a range of up to 80-130KM/50-80 miles on a single charge
and has a load capacity of 500kgs.
The Transit Connect Electric powertrain provides powerful
benefits for commercial vehicle users who have drive cycles that
often include predictable, short range routes with frequent
stop/start driving in city/urban environments.
Azure’s manufacturing partner, Lotus Lightweight Structures,
will begin assembling and shipping Transit Connect Electric vans
next week from its plant in Worcester, UK. Completed vans
will be shipped throughout Europe. Post Norway was previously
announced as Transit Connect Electric’s first European customer
with a 20-van order.
For more information on how Azure Dynamics is Diving a World of
Difference, please visit
About Azure Dynamics
Azure Dynamics Corporation (TSX: AZD)(OTC: AZDDF) is a world leader
in the development and production of hybrid electric and electric
components and powertrain systems for commercial vehicles. Azure is
strategically targeting the commercial delivery vehicle and shuttle
bus markets and is currently working internationally with a variety
of partners and customers. The Company is committed to providing
customers and partners with innovative, cost-efficient, and
environmentally-friendly energy management solutions. For
more information please visit
The TSX Exchange does not accept
responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
Forward-Looking Statements
Advisory
Certain information included in this
press release constitutes forward-looking statements and
information and future-oriented financial information under
applicable securities legislation and is provided for the purpose
of expressing management’s current expectations and plans for the
future. Readers are cautioned that reliance on such
information may not be appropriate for other purposes, such as
making investment decisions.
More particularly, this press release
contains statements concerning Azure’s anticipated: business
development strategy, customer orders, product deliveries, sales,
revenue and revenue growth. The forward-looking statements are
based on a number of key expectations and assumptions made by
Azure, including expectations and assumptions concerning
achievement of current timetables for development programs and
sales, target market acceptance of Azure’s products, current and
new product performance, availability and cost of labor and
expertise, and evolving markets for power for transportation
vehicles. Although Azure believes that the expectations and
assumptions used to develop the forward-looking statements are
reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on the
forward-looking statements because Azure can give no assurance that
they will prove to be correct.
Since forward-looking statements address future events and
conditions, by their very nature they involve numerous risks and
uncertainties that contribute to the possibility that the
projections and forecasts in the forward-looking statements will
not occur and that actual performance or results could differ
materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking
statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not
limited to, the risks associated with Azure’s stage of development,
history of losses and lack of historical product revenues,
uncertainty as to product development and sales milestones being
met, product defect and performance risks, competition for capital
and market share, uncertainty as to target markets, dependence upon
third parties, changes in environmental laws or policies,
uncertainty as to patent and proprietary rights, availability and
retention of management and key personnel, exchange rate and
currency fluctuations, uncertainties relating to potential delays
or changes in plans with respect to product development or capital
expenditures, the ability of Azure to access sufficient capital on
acceptable terms, and environmental and safety risks. This is not
an exhaustive list and additional information on these risks and
other factors that could affect Azure’s operations and financial
results are included in reports on file with the Canadian
securities regulatory authorities and can be accessed through the
SEDAR website at
The forward-looking statements
contained in this press release are made as of the date hereof and
Azure undertakes no obligation to update publicly or revise any
forward-looking statements or information, whether as a result of
new information, future events or otherwise, unless so required by
applicable securities laws. Additionally, Azure undertakes no
obligation to comment on the expectations of, or statements made
by, third parties about Azure.
For further information:
Gary Whittam, Azure Dynamics Europe, +44-(0)-1277-725-652
Email
Juris Pagrabs, Vice President, Investor Relations,
+1-(248)-298-2403 ext 7570
Email:
Patrick Liebler, Liebler Group, +1-248-229-4418
Email:
.
Tags: Azure Dynamics Corporation, June 14, Michigan, Oak park, United States of America
