Blue Bird Makes Bendix ESP Standard On All Air-Braked School Buses

• Full-stability technology from Bendix CVS is standard equipment on all air-braked buses from Blue Bird Corporation (NASDAQ: BLBD)
• Bendix ESP has been equipped on more than 700,000 commercial vehicles in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico since 2005

The Bendix® ESP® Electronic Stability Program full-stability system is now standard equipment on all air-braked buses from Blue Bird Corporation, North America’s leading school bus manufacturer. Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems LLC is a North American-based subsidiary of the Knorr-Bremse Group, the global market leader for braking systems and a leading supplier of other rail and commercial vehicle subsystems.

A proven technology that helps mitigate or possibly prevent loss-of-control and rollover conditions, Bendix ESP has been equipped on more than 700,000 commercial vehicles in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico since its launch in 2005. Bendix, a U.S. is the North American leader in the development and manufacture of active safety, air management, and braking solutions for commercial vehicles.

"Even before full-stability systems became required technology on most commercial vehicles in 2017, they were essentially a safety standard among truck manufacturers and many fleets," said TJ Thomas, Bendix director of marketing and customer solutions, Controls group. "Blue Bird took the lead in mak-ing full stability available on school buses, and Bendix is proud to build on our shared commitment to safer vehicles for students and bus drivers – there’s no more important cargo on the roads, after all."

Fort Valley, Georgia-based Blue Bird is the leading independent designer and manufacturer of school buses in the U.S., with more than 550,000 buses sold since its formation in 1927 and with more than 180,000 buses in operation today. The company employs more than 2,000 people in its Georgia manufacturing facilities and an extensive network of dealers and service facilities throughout North America. In 2014, Blue Bird became the first North American school bus manufacturer to offer full-stability technology, when it made Bendix ESP available as an option on its conventional school buses.

"Nothing is more important to us than safety," said Mark Terry, chief commercial officer at Blue Bird Corporation. "Bendix is a great partner, and we are excited to standardize their ESP system, having been first in the industry to offer full stability by Bendix as an option for the past three years."

Bendix ESP is an antilock braking system (ABS)-based stability technology that recognizes and as-sists with both rollover and vehicle under- and over-steer driving situations. ESP uses a series of sensors to continuously monitor vehicle parameters, including wheel speed, lateral acceleration, steering angle, brake pressure, and yaw rate. These sensors combine to measure driver intent and vehicle direction, helping to mitigate skids, slides, and loss of control – including rollovers – through interventions such as de-throttling the engine and selectively applying the brakes, typically reacting faster than a human can.

Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems, a member of the Knorr-Bremse Group, develops and supplies leading-edge active safety technologies, energy management solutions, and air brake charging and control systems and components under the Bendix® brand name for medium- and heavy-duty trucks, tractors, trailers, buses, and other commercial vehicles throughout North America. An industry pioneer, employing more than 3,200 people, Bendix is driven to deliver solutions for improved vehicle safety, performance, and overall operating cost. Visit bendix.com or the Bendix multimedia center at knowledge-dock.com.

Blue Bird (NASDAQ: BLBD) is the leading independent designer and manufacturer of school buses, with more than 550,000 buses sold since its formation in 1927 and approximately 180,000 buses in operation today. Blue Bird’s longevity and reputation in the school bus industry have made it an iconic American brand. Blue Bird distinguishes itself from its principal competitors by its singular focus on the design, engineering, manufacture and sale of school buses and related parts. As the only manufacturer of chassis and body production specifically designed for school bus applications, Blue Bird is recognized as an industry leader for school bus innovation, safety, product quality/reliability/durability, operating costs and drivability. In addition, Blue Bird is the market leader in alternative fuel applications with its propane-powered, electric and compressed natural gas-powered school buses. Blue Bird manufactures school buses at two facilities in Fort Valley, Georgia. Its Micro Bird joint venture operates a manufacturing facility in Drummondville, Quebec, Canada. Service and after-market parts are distributed from Blue Bird’s parts distribution center located in Delaware, Ohio. For more information on Blue Bird’s complete line of buses, visit www.blue-bird.com.