Vicinity Motor Corp. (TSX-V:VMC) said it has entered into a strategic US distribution agreement with passenger transportation company DATTCO Inc. to distribute Vicinity vehicles within the Northeastern US.
Headquartered in New Britain, Connecticut, DATTCO operates facilities throughout New England and employs over 2,000 people in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Maine, Rhode Island, and Vermont.
The distributorship supports Vicinity's focus on US distribution expansion for its growing portfolio of electric vehicles and conventionally-powered buses. In addition to operating a fleet of over 1,200 buses, DATTCO provides sales, parts, warranty, and service support for transportation providers in the region.
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Under the new agreement, DATTCO will distribute Vicinity vehicles throughout New England. The Vicinity line fills in key transit, EV, and shuttle opportunities within the DATTCO portfolio of vehicles, further enhancing its offering to current customers while expanding to new sectors.
In conjunction with the agreement, Vicinity said DATTCO has placed an initial order valued at over $2 million for Vicinity Lightning EV and Classic transit buses and Optimal-EV S1 paratransit electric low-floor shuttle buses.
"Our distribution partnership with DATTCO will add to our reach in the Northeastern United States with a well-established company that has served the area since 1924," said Vicinity CEO William Trainer in a statement.
"DATTCO's large customer base - with over 1,800 customers, including corporations, schools, tour operators and local organizations - are increasingly looking for sustainable solutions for their transportation needs. We are excited to provide their first EV options for customers and believe they will be quickly impressed with our range of heavy-duty, light-duty and special-purpose electric vehicles. We look forward to working closely with the DATTCO team going forward."
DATTCO CEO Don DeVivo added: “Our customers' priorities continue to evolve, and we're convinced Vicinity's product line has the best range of options covering traditional vehicles, as well as a widely-respected position in the expanding EV market. Both the innovative Vicinity Lightning EV and the VMC Optimal-EVs will be exciting new options that we believe will be an excellent choice for operators seeking electrified vehicles, designed from the ground up to be flexible, cost-effective and user friendly."
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