Wright Express Awarded National Joint Powers Alliance® Fleet Card Contract

SOUTH PORTLAND, Maine, October 26, 2011 – Wright Express Corporation (NYSE: WXS) announced today it was awarded the National Joint Powers Alliance® (NJPA) fleet card vendor contract. The benefit of NJPA membership enables municipalities to reduce fuel management costs, while avoiding a complex agency request for proposal (RFP) process.

NJPA Members can benefit from monthly rebates, as well as access to Wright Express' specialized government fleet services. Program benefits include product level controls for fleet purchases, comprehensive reporting, and 24-hour customer service. Wright Express has acceptance at over 90% of US retail fuel locations, providing customers nationwide with a convenient fuel network.

NJPA, a municipal contracting government agency, has a membership base exceeding over 35,000 agencies serving education, non-profit and all types of government entities. The government agency’s goal is to add a fuel management card program for its government fleet members.

"The Wright Express fleet card program, designed for government fleets, provides the public sector expertise and scale that our member organizations require," said Kelly McAllister, Contract Manager at NJPA. "The easy-to-use card, cost savings through tax exemptions, tighter purchasing control and real-time online reporting give our members the hassle free fleet management tools their drivers and organizations need to succeed in times of tight budgets."

Additional benefits to NJPA members include:

·         No setup or card fees

·         Eliminates duplication of the RFP process as it satisfies most bid requirements

·         Valuable monthly rebates on fuel and maintenance transactions

·         Tax exemption and reporting for qualified fleets

·         Detailed reporting and controls for better accountability

"Our joint contract with NJPA allows members and state entities to save the time and money that an RFP process typically requires when searching for a new service," said Bernie Kavanagh, Vice President of Corporate Payment Solutions at Wright Express. "Serving over 350,000 government and commercial customers, the Wright Express card gives members convenience without hidden fees, and ultimately provides the best control and transaction information for government organizations."

About National Joint Powers Alliance®

The National Joint Powers Alliance® (NJPA) is a municipal contracting government agency established through legal statute in 1978. NJPA serves over 35,000 members throughout the nation with competitively awarded purchasing solutions from industry-leading vendors. For more information regarding this NJPA contract please visit, njpacoop.org/contract-purchasing.

About Wright Express

Wright Express Corporation (NYSE:WXS) is a leading provider of value-based, business payment processing and information management solutions. The company’s fleet, corporate and prepaid payment solutions provide its more than 350,000 customers with unparalleled security and control across a wide spectrum of business sectors. The company’s subsidiaries include Wright Express Financial Services, Pacific Pride and Wright Express International, including Wright Express Prepaid Cards Australia and Wright Express Fuel Cards Australia. Wright Express and its subsidiaries employ more than 850 associates in six countries. For more information about Wright Express, please visit wrightexpress.com.

Ford of Canada Names Dianne Craig New President, CEO

OAKVILLE, Ontario, Oct. 25, 2011 – Ford Motor Company of Canada, Limited today announced the appointment of Dianne Craig as president and CEO, effective Nov. 1, as the company readies to mark its second straight year as the auto sales leader in Canada. Craig replaces David Mondragon, who has served as president and CEO since August 2008.

“Dave’s contributions to Ford of Canada during the last three years have been significant. He led the team through one of the most tumultuous times in the industry and successfully grew the business, bringing new customers to Ford,” said Mark Fields, Ford’s president of The Americas. “This positive marketplace momentum will continue to build as Dianne shares her extensive dealer relations skills, sales background and marketing expertise with the Ford of Canada team.”

Craig was the general manager for the Southeast Market Area in the U.S., a position she assumed in March 2009. In this role, she was responsible for all marketing, sales and service operations for 520 Ford and Lincoln Mercury dealers in North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama and Florida.  

Craig joined the company in 1986 in an entry-level field position and has held a variety of sales and marketing positions including advertising, product marketing, contests and incentives and field operations.

She has also led the company’s Ford and Lincoln Mercury U.S. dealer relations efforts. In this capacity, she directed the National Ford and Lincoln Mercury Dealer Council process and other related dealer activities including National Dealer Meetings.

Craig was born in Buffalo, New York. She graduated from the State University of New York and holds a master’s of Business Administration from Ohio State University.

Car Care Fair Exhibit Returns to AAPEX

BETHESDA, MD – October 25, 2011 – The Car Care Council is bringing back its popular Car Care Fair exhibit, kicking off the 10-year celebration of the “Be Car Care Aware” consumer education campaign, at the 2011 Automotive Aftermarket Products Expo (AAPEX), Nov. 1-3, at the Sands Expo Center in Las Vegas, Nev. The theme of this year’s Car Care Fair exhibit – located at booth #3267 – is Driving More Business to Your Business.

This year’s Car Care Fair will include a sneak peek of the new consumer-driven website and the “behind the scenes of your repair shop” video. Staff will also be on-hand to explain the benefits for companies doing business throughout the distribution channel to be involved in the consumer education campaign. Visitors will get one-on-one demonstrations of how to plan and host Community Car Care Events, and free consumer vehicle inspections during National Car Care Month and throughout the year.

“In celebration of its 10th anniversary, the ‘Be Car Care Aware’ campaign is taking things to the next level, beginning with the Car Care Fair at AAPEX,” said Rich White, executive director, Car Care Council. “The innovative new website and behind-the-scenes video are just the beginning of what’s sure to be an unprecedented year-long celebration of all things ‘Be Car Care Aware.’ There’s never been a better time for the industry to get involved in this dynamic, successful and collaborative campaign as we begin the roll-out of exciting new initiatives for 2012.”

A video about hosting car care events will be viewed at the exhibit, and samples of all promotional and marketing campaign materials available to aftermarket companies, will be on-site. Among the groups who are participating in the exhibit are AutoNetTV, DemandForce.com and DriverSide.com.

About Car Care Council

The Car Care Council is the source of information for the “Be Car Care Aware” consumer education campaign promoting the benefits of regular vehicle care, maintenance and repair to consumers. For a copy of the council’s Car Care Guide or for more information, visit www.carcare.org.

Central Arizona Project Automates Fleet Management With FleetCommander Fleet & Motor Pool Technology

Chantilly, VA, October 25, 2011 --The Central Arizona Project (CAP), which is the largest diversion canal and aqueduct system ever constructed in the United States, recently automated the management of its fleet of state vehicles through the use of FleetCommander web-based fleet and motor pool technology. The announcement was made today by Agile Access Control, Inc., the creator of FleetCommander.

Central Arizona Project:  the largest diversion canal and aquaduct system ever constructed in the U.S.

           

According to CAP officials, FleetCommander has significantly freed up staff while improving service to its 201 fleet users. "In the past, we've had to take reservations in person or by email, while keeping track of them by hand in a log book. With FleetCommander, our users can reserve a vehicle at their convenience online. No more sticking magnets on a big board in our office," says CAP Fleet Manager Eddie Case. "We were writing with one hand and erasing with the other." Case says one of the major improvements he's seen in the past three months since implementing the technology is in vehicle utilization. "We have been able to schedule up to three separate reservations for one vehicle in a single day," he says. "We were never able to do that before."

           

The CAP fleet comprises a mix of SUVs, 4x4s, sedans, and trucks dedicated to managing the Colorado River for delivery of water to its customers. The 336-mile-long CAP system brings about 1.6 million acre-feet of renewable Colorado River water to its customers, which are cities, businesses, agriculture and Indian communities in Pima, Pinal and Maricopa counties. Through the implementation of FleetCommander, the CAP fleet's near-term goal is to achieve significant cost savings by eliminating or pooling their vehicles. "With FleetCommander, we are now able to collect the utilization data we need to make smart decisions about where to cut or pool vehicles while still enabling our drivers to have access to the vehicles they need to do their work," says Case.

           

"We are thrilled to support CAP's mission to enhance the state's economy and quality of life while being a leader in the delivery of water to Central Arizona. FleetCommander innovations will enable the CAP fleet to function more efficiently while giving them the metrics they need to make decisions to right-size their fleet and save taxpayers money," says Ed Smith, President of Agile Access Control, Inc.

CAP is hoping to add FleetCommander's key control system to further streamline operations. FleetCommander's automated key control system would enable the CAP fleet staff to provide secure, 24 x 365 access to vehicles using self-service kiosks.

About the Central Arizona Project

CAP delivers Colorado River water into central and southern Arizona. The project was created to provide water to agriculture, municipal and industrial users, including the three most populous counties in Arizona, including the cities of Phoenix, Tucson, Mesa, Chandler, Tempe and Casa Grande. CAP now serves more than 80% of the state's population.

About Agile Access Control, Inc.

Agile FleetCommander creator Agile Access Control, Inc. is a technology company headquartered in Chantilly, Va., which serves fleet and motor pool managers in the commercial, university and government sectors. Agile's FleetCommander is a web-based application that streamlines the use of vehicles through easy-to-use software, and presents real-time data in the form of intuitive dashboards, graphs, gauges, online forms, and a wide variety of reports. The suite of FleetCommander tools also includes unstaffed key control kiosks tied into the FleetCommander reservation system, as well as in-vehicle utilization and diagnostic devices, integration with GPS solutions, and more. Resulting in lower vehicle and personnel costs and higher customer satisfaction, FleetCommander can be used as a stand-alone, customized fleet management system or integrated with an organization's existing fleet systems. For more information, contact Matthew Wade at 408-213-9555 x555 or mwade@agilefleet.com  or visit http://www.agilefleet.com. 

ARI® SVP Bill Kwelty Honored With Humanitarian Award by United Way of Camden County

MT. LAUREL, NJ (October 25, 2011) – ARI^®, a leading global fleet services provider specializing in complex car and truck fleets, today announced that Senior Vice President and Chief Quality Officer Bill Kwelty has received the 2011 Nathan Asbell M.D. Humanitarian Award from the United Way of Camden County. The award is given annually to individuals who have helped advance the common good and have made Camden County a better place to work and live.

“I am humbled to receive this award,” said Kwelty. “There are so many people with the United Way who are doing great things every day to help this community and I am just a small part of that. I truly believe that by working together we can make a difference in this community.”   

As Chief Quality Officer, Kwelty is responsible for all customer and employee quality concerns, including oversight of ARI’s “Partners in Excellence” initiatives. His background with ARI spans more than 40 years, during which time he has held several positions, including Chief Information Officer from 2007 to 2010.  Bill volunteers on the United Way of Camden County Campaign Cabinet, and for the past two years he has been an advocate on behalf of the annual fundraising campaign. He works tirelessly to enroll other local business leaders in the fundraising effort, leading by example.

“Bill has always been a deeply dedicated member of this community,” said Mindy Holman, Chair of the Board of the United Way of Camden County. “He is a deserving recipient of this award that truly embodies the spirit of community service.”

Kwelty shared the occasion with Senator Donald Norcross who was honored with the 2011 Alexis de Tocqueville Award.  Past Asbell Award recipients include Jeff Nash, Brian Propp and Steve Weinstein.
PHOTO CAPTION – (L-R) Mike Moynihan, President and CEO, United Way of Camden County; Bill Kwelty, Nathan Asbell M.D. Humanitarian Award recipient; Mindy Holman, Chair of the Board of the United Way of Camden County

About ARI^®, Automotive Resources International (http://www.arifleet.com/)
ARI, a subsidiary of Holman Automotive based in Mt. Laurel, N.J., is the fastest growing vehicle fleet management company in the world. As a single-source fleet management leader, ARI customizes innovative solutions that streamline fleet operations, help lower the cost of fleet ownership and create long-term value for customers.

Today, with a workforce of more than 1,800 and offices throughout the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Puerto Rico and Europe, this fleet company manages over 775,000 cars, trucks and equipment in North America and, combined with its strategic partners, more than 1.8 million fleet vehicles globally. 

Smith Electric Vehicles Announces Availability of All-Electric School Bus

(KANSAS CITY, MO.) – OCTOBER 25, 2011 – Smith Electric Vehicles, a leader in all-electric commercial vehicles, and Trans Tech Bus, a leading school bus manufacturer, on Tuesday unveiled the nation’s first all-electric, zero-emission Newton™ eTrans. The vehicle debuted at the National Association for Pupil Transportation’s Annual Summit in Cincinnati, Ohio. The Newton eTrans is available for order today and will be shipped in early 2012.

“America’s 480,000 school buses burn as estimated 822 million gallons of diesel fuel every year at a cost of nearly $3.2 billion,” said Bryan Hansel, president and CEO of Smith Electric Vehicles. “The Newton operates at one-third to one-half the cost of a traditional diesel, creating significant fuel cost savings for school districts in addition to the clear environmental and health benefits of all-electric, zero-emission transportation for students.”

Most school buses in the United States are powered with diesel fuel, the exhaust from which is classified by the Environmental Protection Agency as a likely human carcinogen and can contribute to acute and chronic health effects including asthma, allergies, or other respiratory problems including lung disease. The agency warns that children’s developing respiratory systems and faster breathing rates make them more susceptible to air pollution.

The 42-passenger Newton eTrans travels up to 120 miles on a single charge at speeds of up to 50 mph, ideal for the fixed routes in urban areas most school buses take each day.  The bus also utilizes Smith Power, using the latest in lithium ion battery technology and regenerative braking technology that will transfer energy from the brakes to the batteries when the vehicle is in operation.

“This is an exciting time for Trans Tech Bus as we officially enter the electric school bus market with our eTrans product,” said Dan Daniels, president of Trans Tech Bus. “Our customers have been demanding an all-electric school bus that addresses environmental, health and fuel-cost concerns, and we’re proud to partner with Smith Electric Vehicles to bring it to them.”

About Smith Electric Vehicles

Smith Electric Vehicles (www.smithelectric.com) manufactures and markets zero-emission, all-electric commercial vehicles that are designed to be superior-performing alternatives to traditional diesel trucks due to higher efficiency and lower total cost of ownership. The Newton is ideal for a wide range of applications, including food and parcel delivery, maintenance, aerial lift and personnel transport. Newtons produce zero emissions and are nearly silent.  Smith’s vehicle designs leverage more than 80 years of experience in selling and servicing electric vehicles in the United Kingdom. The company operates manufacturing facilities in Kansas City, Mo., and outside of Newcastle, U.K.