Westport Fuel Systems Inc T.WPRT

Westport awarded ...

[mark5698]

$350,000 in funding from German Gas Industry VANCOUVER, May 13 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Westport Innovations Inc. (TSX: WPT) announced today that it has been awarded (euro) 220,000 (C$350,000) in funding from the German Gas Industry under leadership of Ruhrgas AG, Essen, Germany. The majority of the funding will be used to cover certain costs associated with the development, preparation and commissioning of a MAN heavy- duty engine equipped with Westport-Cycle technology in a MAN test cell in Nurnberg, Germany. That engine has been transported to MAN's facilities in Nurnberg from Vancouver, where it has been under development since May 2001. The balance of the funding will be used to cover costs associated with the previously disclosed independent market study of possible opportunities for Westport-Cycle(TM) technology in bus and truck engines manufactured by MAN. Ruhrgas is Germany's largest natural gas distributor, with nearly 11,000 km (6,600 miles) of pipeline and annual deliveries of 50 billion cubic meters (1.79 trillion cubic feet) of gas. Under leadership of Ruhrgas, a coalition of major German natural gas suppliers have formed ErdgasMobil, a company responsible for developing an additional 1,000 natural gas vehicle refueling stations in Germany over the next four years. Bernd Bartunek, VP of Westport Europe, said, "By forming ErdgasMobil, the German gas industry has taken on the challenge of putting in place a significant CNG infrastructure for passenger and light duty vehicles because it believes strongly in the future of CNG as a vehicle fuel. Its participation in the market study and its funding of our work provides valuable assistance as we continue our expansion into European markets." Westport's strategy is to develop alternative fuel technology for diesel engines through key strategic alliances. In addition to MAN, Westport is currently cooperating on technological development agreements with Isuzu Motor Ltd. of Tokyo, Japan, and BMW AG of Munich, Germany. Westport also has a joint venture arrangement with Cummins Inc. of Columbus, Indiana. Note: Information provided and statements in this news release that are not purely historical are forward-looking statements about Westport's business, operations, technology development or to the environment in which it operates, which are based on Westport's operations, estimates, forecasts and projections. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks and uncertainties that are difficult to predict, or are beyond Westport's control. It is important to note that Westport's actual future results could differ materially from those projected in such forward-looking statements because of a number of risks as detailed from time to time in the company's filings with regulatory authorities. Consequently, readers should not place any undue reliance on such forward-looking statements. In addition, these forward-looking statements relate to the date on which they are made. Westport disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward- looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. For further information, please contact: Moira Chicilo, Director, Corporate Communications, Westport Innovations Inc. Phone: [phone], Email: [e-mail] Web: www.westport.com Westport Innovations Inc. CONTACT: Moira Chicilo, Director, Corporate Communications, Westport Innovations Inc., Phone: [phone], Email: [e-mail] Web: https://www.westport.com/