Jan den Oudsten Presented Lifetime Achievement Award by the Canadian Urban Transit Association

Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada (November 12, 2004) - Jan den Oudsten, the previous CEO, Chairman of the Board and owner of New Flyer, was presented the Lifetime Achievement Award at the CUTA Fall Conference held in Montreal, Quebec this week.  This award recognizes individuals who have concluded or are concluding their careers and have made extraordinary contributions to public transit in Canada on a sustained basis.  He was also inducted into the American Public Transportation Association’s Hall of Fame in October, 2004, for his significant achievements over his career in the transit industry.

“We are very fortunate to have had Mr. den Oudsten involved with New Flyer for most of the last two decades,” said Paul Smith, Executive Vice President of Sales and Marketing for New Flyer.  “His legacy will live on for many years.”

Mr. den Oudsten, who retired this year from his position as Chairman of the board, is credited with significant contributions to worldwide transit.  Upon purchasing Flyer Industries in 1986, he transferred European low-floor technology to 40’ and 60’ articulated urban transit buses, which provides easier entrance and exit for all passengers, a more spacious interior and larger windows.

In addition to low-floor technology, he introduced programmable logic control for bus electrical systems in 1993, integrated hydrogen fuel cell technology in the mid-1990’s and, in 2002, introduced the first 60’ Articulated Diesel Electric Hybrid bus.  In 1999, Mr. den Oudsten unveiled the Invero, New Flyer’s state-of-the-art transit bus, which featured enhanced driver ergonomics, greater passenger comfort, ease of maintenance and the first two stage wheelchair ramp that allows wheelchair passengers to board from the street without assistance.

Mr. den Oudsten began his career in the 1960’s by joining the family business, Den Oudsten Bussen in the Netherlands, which was started by his father in 1926.  In 1986, Mr. den Oudsten purchased New Flyer from the Province of Manitoba, Canada.