Utilimaster

Utilimaster is a subsidiary of The Shyft Group that manufactures multi-stop trucks. It was founded in 1973 in Wakarusa, Indiana. Previously owned by Holiday Rambler and then Harley-Davidson, it was bought by senior management along with an investment group led by Kirkland Messina for $65 million in 1996. Currently ISO 9001 and QS-9000 certified.

Utilimaster
Founded1973
Headquarters
Bristol, Indiana
,
U.S.
ProductsMulti-stop trucks
ParentThe Shyft Group
Websiteutilimaster.com

On November 19, 2009, Spartan Motors (now named The Shyft Group) acquired Utilimaster for $45 million in an all-cash transaction.[1] The Road Rescue division was sold to Allied Specialty Vehicles in 2010 by Spartan.[2]

Utilimaster bought, Union City Body Company, a competitor from Union City, Indiana, for an undisclosed amount on November 16, 2005. Union City Body had bought the General Motors chassis and commercial truck business in 1998.[3]

Products
1992 Utilimaster (UMC) Aeromate

In the 1980s and 1990s the company manufactured the aerodynamic Aeromate on an in-house, front-wheel drive chassis. The original model was introduced in August 1988 and used Chrysler's 2.5-liter inline-four engine known from the K-car.[4] Later models used either the turbocharged version of Chrysler's 2.5-litre four or their 3.3-litre V6 engine, with the V6 being introduced for the 1991 model year.[5] With a 5,500-pound (2,495 kg) GVWR the vehicle's payload was 2,050 lb (930 kg) with either engine fitted.[5]

In mid-1990, for the 1991 model year, Utilimaster introduced the larger Aeromaster Z2000. Also sitting on a proprietary front-wheel drive chassis, this aerodynamic walk-in van was available in GVWRs from 10,000 to 12,500 lb (4,540 to 5,670 kg) and was offered with either Ford gasoline V8 engines or Cummins' 4BT four-cylinder diesel.[6]

Isuzu Reach in FedEx livery

In 2011, Isuzu and Utilimaster announced plans for Utilimaster to assemble the Isuzu Reach in their Wakarusa, Indiana, plant. It is a commercial step van with much better aerodynamics and a more fuel-efficient engine than other walk-in vans in the class, offering markedly better fuel efficiency.[7] On February 14, 2012, Utilimaster announced it would move from Wakarusa, Indiana, to nearby Bristol, Indiana.

In 2012, Utilimaster and Smith co-developed an integrated walk-in van design. Using Smith's Newton chassis platform. The Newton Step Van was available in configurations of 14,000 to 26,000 lbs. GVW and 650 to 1,200 cubic feet and provided a range of approximately 100 miles on a single charge.

In 2015, Utilimaster introduced the first walk-in cargo van named Velocity. The Velocity was the most fuel efficient walk-in van when introduced. The van was developed on the Ford Transit chassis, available in gas, diesel, or CNG/LPG configurations.

In 2020, at the NTEA's Work Truck Show, Utilimaster announced the Velocity M3, a walk-in cargo van built on the Mercedes Sprinter chassis.[8]

In 2020, Utilimaster announced the Velocity F2, a sub-10,000 lbs. GVWR walk-in cargo van built on the Ford Transit chassis. The Velocity F2 combines the comfort, nimbleness, and fuel-efficiency of a cargo van, with the load capacity similar to a traditional walk-in delivery van.[9]

References
  1. "Spartan Motors Announces Agreement to Acquire Utilimaster Corporation". PR Newswire. PR Newswire Association LLC. 2009-11-19. Archived from the original on 2012-10-13.
  2. "Allied Specialty Vehicles, Inc. Announces The Acquisition of Road Rescue". Road Rescue. 2010-09-20. Archived from the original on 2013-07-25.
  3. "GM To Sell Chassis Business". AP News Archive. The Associated Press. 1998-09-04.
  4. "Light Trucks Specs (supplement)". Fleet Owner. Vol. 83 no. 12. FM Business Publications. December 1988. p. LT3.
  5. Siegel, Stewart (July 1990). "The New Models for 1991: Light Trucks". Fleet Owner. Vol. 85 no. 7. FM Business Publications. p. 62.
  6. Mele, Jim (July 1990). "The New Models for 1991: Mid-Range Trucks". Fleet Owner. Vol. 85 no. 7. FM Business Publications. p. 76.
  7. "Indiana Facility to Produce Isuzu Commercial Vehicles". Inside Indiana Business. 2011-03-09. Archived from the original on 2015-02-22.
  8. "Utilimaster Unveils New Velocity M3 Walk-in Cargo Van at the 2020 Work Truck Show". Utilimaster. Retrieved 2020-11-03.
  9. "Utilimaster is Road Ready with Velocity F2, Class 2 Walk-In Van". Utilimaster. Retrieved 2020-11-03.
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