Utilimaster
{{Advert|date=March 2021}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Utilimaster
| logo =
| type =
| predecessor =
| successor =
| founder =
| defunct =
| fate =
| area_served =
| key_people =
| industry =
| products = Multi-stop trucks
| production =
| services =
| owner =
| parent = The Shyft Group
| subsid =
| homepage = {{URL|https://utilimaster.com}}
| footnotes =
| caption =
| foundation = 1973
| location =
| locations =
| location_city = Bristol, Indiana
| location_country = U.S.
}}
Utilimaster, a subsidiary of The Shyft Group, manufactures multi-stop trucks. It was founded in 1973 in Wakarusa, Indiana.{{cite web | url = http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/spartan-motors-announces-agreement-to-acquire-utilimaster-corporation-70457722.html | title = Spartan Motors Announces Agreement to Acquire Utilimaster Corporation | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20121013223050/https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/spartan-motors-announces-agreement-to-acquire-utilimaster-corporation-70457722.html | archive-date = 2012-10-13 | date = 2009-11-19 | work = PR Newswire | publisher = PR Newswire Association LLC. }}
In 1996, Utilimaster was bought for $65 million from Harley-Davidson by senior management and an investment group which was led by Kirkland Messina. It had been owned by Holiday Rambler before Harley-Davidson. On November 19, 2009, Spartan Motors (now The Shyft Group) acquired Utilimaster for $45 million in an all-cash transaction. Spartan sold the Road Rescue division to Allied Specialty Vehicles in 2010.{{Cite web |url=http://www.roadrescue.com/news.php?id=1 |title= Allied Specialty Vehicles, Inc. Announces The Acquisition of Road Rescue | date=2010-09-20 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130725063111/http://www.roadrescue.com/news.php?id=1 |archive-date=2013-07-25 |url-status=dead | publisher = Road Rescue }}
Utilimaster bought Union City Body Company, a competitor from Union City, Indiana, for an undisclosed amount on November 16, 2005. Union City Body bought the General Motors chassis and commercial truck business in 1998.{{cite news | url = https://apnews.com/f548aea1904a182b3371c848ea51119e | title = GM To Sell Chassis Business | date = 1998-09-04 | work = AP News Archive | publisher = The Associated Press }}
Products
File:1992 Aeromate UMC 2.75 Step Van, front left.jpg
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.{{cite magazine | ref = LT88 | magazine = Fleet Owner | title = Light Trucks Specs (supplement) | date = December 1988 | publisher = FM Business Publications | volume = 83 | number = 12 | page = LT3 }} Later models used either the turbocharged version of Chrysler's 2.5-litre four cylinder engine or their 3.3-litre V6 engine; the V6 was introduced for the 1991 model year.{{cite magazine | ref = SS91 | magazine = Fleet Owner | title = The New Models for 1991: Light Trucks | date = July 1990 | publisher = FM Business Publications | volume = 85 | number = 7 | last = Siegel | first = Stewart | page = 62 }} With a {{convert|5500|lb|kg|0|adj=on}} GVWR the vehicle's payload was {{convert|2050|lb|kg|0|abbr=on}} with either engine fitted.
In mid-1990, Utilimaster introduced the larger Aeromaster Z2000 for the 1991 model year. The aerodynamic walk-in van was also built on a proprietary front-wheel drive chassis, and came in GVWRs ranging from 10,000 to 12,500 lb (4,540 to 5,670 kg). The engine options were a Ford gasoline V8 or a Cummins' 4BT four-cylinder diesel.{{cite magazine | ref = FO857 | magazine = Fleet Owner | title = The New Models for 1991: Mid-Range Trucks | date = July 1990 | publisher = FM Business Publications | volume = 85 | number = 7 | last = Mele | first = Jim | page = 76 }}
File:Isuzu Reach, FedEx Express(1).jpg in FedEx livery]]
In 2011, Isuzu and Utilimaster announced plans for Utilimaster to assemble the Isuzu Reach in its Wakarusa, Indiana, plant. It is a commercial step van with improved aerodynamics and a more fuel-efficient engine than other walk-in vans in the class.{{cite journal |url=http://www.insideindianabusiness.com/newsitem.asp?id=46554 |title = Indiana Facility to Produce Isuzu Commercial Vehicles | date = 2011-03-09 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150222162902/http://www.insideindianabusiness.com/newsitem.asp?id=46554 |archive-date=2015-02-22 | journal = Inside Indiana Business }} On February 14, 2012, Utilimaster announced that it would move from Wakarusa to Bristol, Indiana, 17 miles away.
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, which they named Velocity. 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.{{Cite web|title=Utilimaster Unveils New Velocity M3 Walk-in Cargo Van at the 2020 Work Truck Show|url=https://generaltruckbodyla.com/press-releases/utilimaster-unveils-new-velocity-m3-walk-in-cargo-van-at-the-2020-work-truck-show/|access-date=2020-11-03|website=Utilimaster|language=en-US}} In 2020, Utilimaster announced the Velocity F2, a sub-10,000 lbs. GVWR walk-in cargo van built on the Ford Transit chassis.
On 6 March 2023 Utilimaster announced the deployment in 5,860 walk-in vans of its Rapid Driver Cooling System.{{Cite web |date=2024-03-06 |title=Delivery Drivers to Benefit from In-Vehicle Cooling Systems from Utilimaster® |url=https://finance.yahoo.com/news/delivery-drivers-benefit-vehicle-cooling-123100472.html |access-date=2024-08-14 |website=Yahoo Finance |language=en-US}}
{{commons category|Utilimaster vehicles}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{Official website|https://www.utilimaster.com/}}
Category:Motor vehicle manufacturers based in Indiana
Category:Automotive companies of the United States