Shyft Group adds capacity to Blue Arc electric van plant

Michigan's Shyft Group is bolstering its investment in commercial electric delivery vehicles with a $16 million expansion of the company's production facilities near Lansing, the state capitol.

Shyft, formerly Spartan Motors, says its plans to expand its Charlotte, Mich., with facility upgrades and additional equipment that will enable production of 3,000 Blue Arc EVs per year. The company has already booked orders for 2,000 Blue Arc class 3, 4, and 5 electric delivery vehicles. Production is scheduled to get underway this summer.

Shyft, which has facilities in 10 states and Mexico, booked sales of $992 million in 2021 and employs 3,800 people, including contractors. Shyft's Charlotte facility is one of the company's largest and produces walk-in delivery vans, motor home chassis and work truck chassis. The company said the Blue Arc project will bolster technical, engineering and manufacturing jobs.