The Shyft Group Expands Electric Vehicle Production for Parcel Delivery
The Shyft Group (NASDAQ: SHYF) has announced the production of its first electric vehicles (EVs) for parcel delivery customers. This marks a significant step for its Utilimaster brand, which will use a new flexible body assembly line to manufacture these EV walk-in vans. The vehicles will undergo testing for route performance and customer feedback will be utilized to enhance their features. Production is slated for 2021, aiming for a capacity of up to 5,000 units per year. These EVs will provide a range of up to 150 miles, contributing to Shyft's expansion in the electric delivery vehicle market.
- Launch of EV production for parcel delivery, expanding the Utilimaster brand's offerings.
- Expected production capacity of 5,000 EV units annually starting in 2021.
- Existing EVs have logged over half-a-million miles, indicating reliability.
- Vehicles built on a proven lightweight chassis design advantageous for EVs.
- Production of EVs is not expected to begin until 2021, causing a delay in availability.
- Initial range of 150 miles may limit the vehicle's operational scope, depending on usage.
NOVI, Mich., Aug. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The Shyft Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: SHYF) ("Shyft" or the "Company"), the North American leader in specialty vehicle manufacturing, assembly, and upfit for the commercial, retail, and service specialty vehicle markets, today announced its go-to-market Utilimaster brand is producing its first production order of electric vehicles (EV) for two leading parcel delivery companies on its new flexible body assembly line. Utilimaster has proven EV walk-in vans on the road today with linen and uniform delivery customers, but these new orders represent the first EV walk-in vans designed specifically for, and ordered by, its parcel fleet customers.
The vehicles are built upon Shyft's traditional walk-in van chassis platform, which has been converted to use an all-electric powertrain. The EVs will be evaluated by these customers for route testing, suitability, and performance, and the feedback from these units will be used to further refine the features of Shyft's electric last mile delivery vehicles. Production of the electric delivery vehicles is expected to begin in 2021 with a dedicated EV chassis assembly line that can produce up to 5,000 units per year on a single shift.
"We have designed and manufactured EV walk-in vans for other vocation customers in the past, and we are excited at the prospect of expanding our one-stop shop of proven work-driven designs for ICE with additional EV models built to serve our parcel delivery customers," said Daryl Adams, President and Chief Executive Officer. "For the past 40 years, we have led the competitive landscape in integrating cabs and bodies with various alternative propulsion technologies. For customers seeking a tangible, drivable, and affordable EV solution today, we're taking orders and building now."
The electrified, traditional walk-in vans will be built on a medium-duty chassis—an industry proven lightweight body design that is advantageous to an EV powertrain. With a gross vehicle weight rating of 19,500 pounds, 900 cubic feet of cargo space, and a payload capacity of 6,000 pounds, this new vehicle will be comparable in size and payload to standard internal combustion engine vans currently in production by Shyft's Utilimaster brand. The EV power is expected to provide an initial range of up to 150 miles between charges—depending on use characteristics and conditions—and may be enhanced based on feedback from customer testing.
"Under our Utilimaster brand, Shyft has more than 800 purpose-built alternative fuel fleet vehicles on the road, including those powered by an electric drive system," said Adams. "These all-electric-powered vehicles have logged more than half-a-million miles, and have proven to be a durable, reliable, emissions-free alternative to the internal combustion engine powered chassis."
About The Shyft Group
The Shyft Group is the North American leader in specialty vehicle manufacturing, assembly, and upfit for the commercial, retail, and service specialty vehicle markets. Our customers include first-to-last mile delivery companies across vocations, federal, state, and local government entities; the trades; and utility and infrastructure segments. The Shyft Group is organized into two core business units: Shyft Fleet Vehicles & Services and Shyft Specialty Vehicles. Today, its family of brands include Utilimaster, Royal Truck Body, Strobes-R-Us, Spartan RV Chassis, Builtmore Contract manufacturing, and corresponding aftermarket provisions. The Shyft Group and its go-to-market brands are well known in their respective industries for quality, durability, and first-to-market innovation. The Company employs approximately 2,700 associates across campuses, and operates facilities in Michigan, Indiana, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Florida, Missouri, California, Arizona, Texas, and Saltillo, Mexico. The Company reported sales from continuing operations of
CONTACT:
Media:
Samara Hamilton
Vice President, Marketing and Communications
The Shyft Group
Samara.Hamilton@theshyftgroup.com
(517) 997-3860
Sawyer Lipari
Senior Director
Lambert & Co.
slipari@lambert.com
313.309.9551
Investors:
Juris Pagrabs
Group Treasurer, Director of Investor Relations
The Shyft Group
Juris.Pagrabs@theshyftgroup.com
(517) 997-3862
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SOURCE The Shyft Group
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