Contact: nicholas.smith@daimler.com

Richmond, Va. – Nov. 10, 2015 – Thomas Built Buses has teamed up with Mobileye Aftermarket, a division of Mobileye N.V., the global leader in the development of vision and data analysis for Advanced Driver Assistance Systems and autonomous driving, and Pana-Pacific, to offer the Mobileye Aftermarket collision avoidance system as a factory-installed option for the popular Saf-T-Liner® C2 as part of its BusWise™ suite of technologies.

Thomas Built Buses is the first OEM in the pupil transportation industry to offer this safety technology. The Mobileye Aftermarket system will be an available option on new orders of the Saf-T-Liner® C2 placed on or after November 11, 2015.

The Mobileye Aftermarket system provides collision prevention and mitigation by warning drivers of potential incidents before they happen. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 93% of accidents are due to human error. An alert system such as Mobileye can give a distracted driver the opportunity to avoid a collision or mitigate its severity.

The safety benefits of collision avoidance systems like Mobileye have been proven to reduce collisions and the injuries and fatalities involved. In fact, in its most recent report, the NHTSA recommends all vehicles be equipped with a forward collision avoidance system.

“Mobileye Aftermarket provides drivers with a valuable tool to help mitigate accidents, which is critical especially when you consider the passengers on Thomas Built buses,” said Michael Backman, general manager, Mobileye Aftermarket USA.

In addition to the forward collision warning, the Mobileye Aftermarket system also offers pedestrian and cyclist detection, headway monitoring to avoid tailgating, lane departure warning to help avoid drifting, and speed limit indication.

“The Mobileye Aftermarket system will greatly enhance the safety of students and drivers on our buses,” said Tracy Mack-Askew, vice president of Engineering for Thomas Built Buses. “Mobileye Aftermarket offers a collision warning system that will give bus drivers an additional level of support so they can be even more aware of potential threats on the road.  The effectiveness of its alerts and its success in other markets make this partnership and new technology a must.”

In fact, one of Mobileye’s customers, Coca Cola Hellenic, has realized a 15 percent reduction in accidents. The system not only worked to make the fleet safer, but also trained drivers on how to maintain a safer fleet.

“Thomas Built Buses hopes to utilize this technology in the future to assist with driver training on school buses,” added Mack-Askew.

For more information customers should contact their local Thomas Built Buses dealer.

About Thomas Built Buses

Founded in 1916, Thomas Built Buses is a leading manufacturer of school buses in North America. Since the first Thomas Built bus rolled off the assembly line, the company has been committed to delivering the smartest and most innovative buses in North America. Learn more at www.thomasbus.com or at http://www.facebook.com/thomasbuiltbuses.

Thomas Built Buses, Inc., headquartered in High Point, N.C., is a subsidiary of Daimler Trucks North America LLC, the largest heavy-duty truck manufacturer in North America and a leading manufacturer of class 4-8 vehicles. Daimler Trucks North America produces and markets commercial vehicles under the Freightliner, Western Star and Thomas Built Buses nameplates. Daimler Trucks North America is a Daimler company.

About Pana-Pacific

Our dedicated sales and engineering experts have worked side-by-side with Commercial Vehicle (CV) manufacturers for over 43 years, to develop and implement quality products for vehicles that live up to the required standards.  Our customers have come to rely on us as the expert in the areas of mobile audio and entertainment, satellite radio, safety, navigation, video systems, communications, telematics, mobile appliances and more.  Pana-Pacific has a systems-integration approach, which has positioned the company to offer world class products from global companies to the CV manufacturers as well as their dealers and other valued customers.   With 14 original equipment (OE) manufacturers as customers Pana-Pacific provides services to approximately 2,800 OE dealers, over 35 OE part distribution centers and thousands of CV fleet companies.  At any given time, you will find over 2,500 unique OEM part numbers in stock and available for shipment from our warehouse facility in Fresno, California. For more information, please visit www.panapacific.com.

About Mobileye, N.V.

Mobileye N.V. is the global leader in the development of vision and data analysis for Advanced Driver Assistance Systems and autonomous driving. Our technology keeps passengers safer on the roads, reduces the risks of traffic accidents, saves lives and has the potential to revolutionize the driving experience by enabling autonomous driving.  Our proprietary software algorithms and EyeQ® chips perform detailed interpretations of the visual field in order to anticipate possible collisions with other vehicles, pedestrians, cyclists, animals, debris and other obstacles. Mobileye’s products are also able to detect roadway markings such as lanes, road boundaries, barriers and similar items, as well as to identify and read traffic signs and traffic lights. Our products are or will be integrated into car models from 23 global automakers including BMW, Ford, General Motors, Nissan, Volvo, Audi and Hyundai.  Our products are also available in the aftermarket.