CHARLOTTE, Mich., March 7, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Spartan Fleet
Vehicles and Services ("Spartan"), a business unit of Spartan
Motors, Inc. (NASDAQ: SPAR) which goes to market under the
Utilimaster® and Spartan Upfit Services brands, announced today it
has signed an exclusive supply agreement with Motiv Power Systems,
a leading producer of all-electric chassis for walk-in vans, box
trucks, work trucks, buses, and other specialty vehicles. The
agreement provides Spartan exclusive access to Motiv's EPIC™ all
electric chassis in manufacturing Class 4 – Class 6 walk-in vans
for a minimum of three years. With this joint commitment, the
companies can produce zero-emission, economical and reliable
all-electric walk-in vans for fleets and expect to build hundreds
of such vehicles over the course of the agreement.
"Our key customers have been asking Spartan to provide an EV
solution. Our exclusive supply agreement with Motiv answers their
question and demonstrates Spartan's ability to innovate and advance
the markets we serve, and we believe it places us ahead of the
curve in the EV fleet market," said Daryl
Adams, President and Chief Executive Officer, Spartan
Motors. "Today, under our Utilimaster brand, we have over 800
purpose-built alternative fuel fleet vehicles on the road, many of
them powered by electric drive systems. These all-electric powered
vehicles have logged many miles, and have proven to be durable,
reliable, emissions-free alternatives to the internal combustion
engine powered chassis. This exclusive agreement allows us to apply
over forty years of fleet vehicle manufacturing knowhow and our
Utilimaster Work-Driven Design™ process to Motiv's proven expertise
and market ownership of the electric propulsion space. Together, we
intend to produce innovations that will shape the future of
economical and environmentally friendly fleet
design."
Motiv's All-Electric EPIC chassis provides universal charging
compatibility and secure remote telematics and diagnostics, no
matter where the route leads, resulting in a walk-in van with a 100
–150-mile range per charge and up to 30% gradeability.
"Through this agreement, Spartan and Motiv further demonstrate
our shared vision that electric commercial vehicles are an
important part of our future," said Jim
Castelaz, Motiv's CEO. "It further allows both companies to
commit to the scale necessary for us to continue our joint
leadership in electric walk-in vans and pair our reliable, proven
EPIC all-electric chassis with Spartan's reliable products and
well-deserved reputation for manufacturing excellence."
Utilimaster and Motiv worked together in early 2017 to develop a
commercially available electric vehicle (EV) walk-in van concept.
At the same time, Utilimaster and Motiv jointly integrated the EV
requirements into Utilimaster's final stage chassis and body
manufacturing processes, located at its state-of-the-art
manufacturing facility in Bristol, Indiana. Motiv selected
Spartan and Utilimaster for the bilateral exclusive agreement
because of Utilimaster's longstanding market leadership position
and ability to provide fleets of all sizes with broad, innovative
solutions.
The Spartan/Motiv first joint customer success followed in
January with the completion of a 20 EV walk-in van for AmeriPride
Services — one of the largest uniform rental and linen supply
companies in North America. An AmeriPride walk-in van, built
by Utilimaster, powered by a Motiv chassis, will be available for
ride-and-drives at the NTEA, The Work Truck Show, March
6-9.
For more information on Spartan's Fleet Vehicles and Services
brands, please visit: www.spartanmotors.com/fleet-vehicles.
About Spartan Motors
Spartan Motors, Inc. is a leading designer, engineer,
manufacturer, and marketer of a broad range of specialty vehicles,
specialty chassis, vehicle bodies, and parts for the fleet and
delivery, recreational vehicle (RV), emergency response, defense
forces, and contract assembly (light/medium duty truck) markets.
The Company's brand names — Spartan Motors, Spartan Specialty
Vehicles, Spartan Emergency Response, Spartan Parts and
Accessories, Smeal, and its family of brands, including Ladder
Tower™ and UST®; and Utilimaster®, a Spartan Motors Company — are
known for quality, durability, performance, customer service, and
first-to-market innovation. The Company employs approximately 2,300
associates, and operates facilities in Michigan, Indiana, Pennsylvania, Missouri, Wisconsin, Nebraska, South
Dakota; Saltillo, Mexico;
and Lima, Peru. Spartan reported
sales of $707 million in 2017. Visit
Spartan Motors at www.spartanmotors.com.
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SOURCE Spartan Motors, Inc.