CNH Industrial bus facility in the Czech Republic celebrates 120th anniversary

-- Iveco Bus, the Company's bus and coach brand marked an important milestone at its site in Vysoke Myto. Local dignitaries together with CNH Industrial representatives took part in an official anniversary ceremony on June 4. First founded in 1895, the site has grown over the years to become one of Europe's main bus production hubs, generating an economic stimulus for the country.

LONDON, June 8, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Iveco Bus, a brand of CNH Industrial N.V. (NYSE: CNHI / MI: CNHI), marked the 120th anniversary of its Vysoke Myto bus manufacturing facility in the Czech Republic. This past week has seen celebrations dedicated to employees and the general public. These events culminated on Thursday, June 4, when the company's management welcomed government officials, international press and customers to the site.

Guests in attendance included: Jan Hamacek, Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies of the Parliament of the Czech Republic, Mr. Andrej Babis, Minister of Finance and Mr. Amati Aldo, Italian Ambassador to the Czech Republic. They were greeted by Pierre Lahutte, Iveco Brand President, Sylvain Blaise, Head of Global Bus at CNH Industrial and Jiri Vanek, Head of Iveco Czech Republic.

With a surface area of more than 225,000 square metres, the Vysoke Myto site is the largest commercial vehicle production complex in Central and Eastern Europe and one of the major bus production facilities in Europe. Iveco Bus is a key employer in the Czech Republic where Vysoke Myto employs more than 3,000 employees and another 1,700 subcontractors.

"We are very proud to be able to celebrate the activity and continual growth of this plant. This site plays a key role in the country's economy and Iveco has made the most important investment a company can make: investing in the future. Today Iveco Bus is making a major contribution to the growth of the Czech economy: in 2014 alone the Vysoke Myto plant produced 3,288 buses, 94% of which have been for the European market, particularly for France, followed by Germany, Benelux, Slovakia and Italy," said Pierre Lahutte, Iveco Brand President, at the event's press conference held during the event.

The Vysoke Myto site was first founded as a coach and carriage manufacturing plant by Josef Sodomka in 1895. Over the years the company evolved from horse-drawn transport to become one of the main bus production hubs in Europe. It counts for 85 years' worth of bus manufacturing that has continued to create local jobs and promote economic growth for the country.

Iveco Bus produces the Urbanway city bus in Vysoke Myto, which is designed for public transport in urban areas, and the Crossway, the flagship vehicle of the brand's intercity range, which was first created at the Czech plant. Conceived for intercity and school transport, it is a leading intercity vehicle in Europe.

"The Crossway," commented Sylvain Blaise, Head of Global Bus at CNH Industrial, "is a milestone in the history of Vysoke Myto, and it was the vehicle that most contributed to reaching the record number of a total of 120,000 buses manufactured in the plant since its foundation."

Guests were invited to visit the plant and attend a presentation on the history of Iveco Bus and on its current position as one of the sector's leaders in Europe.  The discussion then moved on to future developments concerning the Vysoke Myto plant and the important role the plant plays in employment for the region.   

The new Bus Design Centre in Vysoke Myto was also unveiled during the celebrations. This unique space allows for customers to come in and tailor their buses to their exact requirements. Everything from dashboard configurations to upholstery and seating selections can be chosen directly here.

CNH Industrial N.V. (NYSE: CNHI /MI: CNHI) is a global leader in the capital goods sector with established industrial experience, a wide range of products and a worldwide presence. Each of the individual brands belonging to the Company is a major international force in its specific industrial sector: Case IH, New Holland Agriculture and Steyr for tractors and agricultural machinery; Case and New Holland Construction for earth moving equipment; Iveco for commercial vehicles; Iveco Bus and Heuliez Bus for buses and coaches; Iveco Astra for quarry and construction vehicles; Magirus for firefighting vehicles; Iveco Defence Vehicles for defence and civil protection; and FPT Industrial for engines and transmissions. More information can be found on the corporate website: cnhindustrial.com

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SOURCE CNH Industrial N.V.