March 30, 20006 -- Cummins Westport Inc. has been contracted by Russia's largest bus manufacturer to supply 278 high-performance alternative fuel engines. CWI, a joint venture of engine builder Cummins Inc. and Westport Innovations, which develops alternative fuel technologies, is supplying its C Gas Plus natural gas (CNG) engines. The engines will be installed in LiAZ-5256 (25 hp) and LiAZ-6212 (articulated, 280 hp) buses that will transport workers to and from the AutoVAZ car manufacturing plant in the Samara region, 1,000 km from Moscow.

Russian Buses is the largest manufacturer of buses in Russia.

"This is the first major order of Cummins Westport natural gas engines by a CIS original equipment manufacturer," stated Alexei Ustinov, Cummins Russia ABO Head. "The first prototype natural gas engine was delivered to the OEM, LiAZ in 2003. Currently, there are seven prototype buses of various models which will be operating in a number of Russian cities."

The order is the largest CWI has earned to date in Europe.