Beijing Fire Department Order Largest Ever From China for Spartan Motors

CHARLOTTE, Mich., Feb. 16 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Spartan Motors Chassis, Inc., a subsidiary of Spartan Motors, Inc. (Nasdaq: SPAR), today announced a new order for 22 Metro Star™ Pumper chassis for the Beijing Fire Department.  The order is the largest ever from China since the company first began doing business there in 2002.  Under the terms of the contract, Spartan will provide the chassis to Itasca, Illinois-based W.S. Darley & Co.  Darley will add the body and pump systems to fulfill the order.  The vehicles are scheduled for second/third-quarter delivery.

"The Metro Star Pumper has a track record of success and has proven itself to be one of the most reliable and effective fire trucks available anywhere in the world," said John Sztykiel, President and CEO of Spartan Motors.  "An order of this size represents an incredible opportunity for Spartan to expand awareness of our products in the Chinese market, so we are extremely grateful to the Beijing Fire Department and W.S. Darley & Co. for their confidence in our products and honored that our chassis have been chosen to help protect the people of China."  

The Metro Star Pumper Chassis will be customized to meet the unique needs of the Beijing Fire Department and to conform to Chinese standards.  Each vehicle will include the model's trademark spacious cab design, featuring a flat floor, various seating configurations and raised roof.  The design provides up to 10 crew members with extended leg and headroom, improved visibility and additional space for storage.  The Metro Star Pumper also features the industry's tallest and widest cab doors, and the widest steps and the lowest step heights providing enhanced safety when entering and exiting the cab.

W.S. Darley & Co. will be installing a heavy duty CAFS (Compressed Air Foam System) on the Spartan Chassis.  This unique system, designed to meet the specific needs of the Beijing Fire Department, features special pumps with the ability to pump water and foam to the top floors of buildings that are more than 300 meters tall.  

About Spartan Motors Chassis, Inc.

Spartan Motors Chassis, Inc., (www.spartanmotors.com) a subsidiary of Spartan Motors, Inc. (Nasdaq: SPAR), designs, engineers and manufactures specialty chassis, specialty vehicles and truck bodies and aftermarket parts for the outdoor recreation/RV, emergency-response, defense, delivery and service markets.  The company's brand names – Spartan™, Crimson Fire™, Crimson Fire Aerials™, Road Rescue™ and Utilimaster® – are known for quality, value, service and being the first to market with innovative products.  The company employs approximately 1,500 at facilities in Michigan, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Indiana and Texas.  Spartan reported sales of $844.4 million in 2008 and is focused on becoming a global leader in the manufacture of specialty vehicles and chassis.

This release contains forward-looking statements, including, without limitation, statements concerning our business, future plans and objectives and the performance of our products. These forward-looking statements involve certain risks and uncertainties that ultimately may not prove to be accurate. Actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Technical complications may arise that could prevent the prompt implementation of the plans outlined above. The company cautions that these forward-looking statements are further qualified by other factors including, but not limited to, those set forth in the company's Annual Report on Form 10-K filing and other filings with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (available at http://www.sec.gov). Government contracts and subcontracts typically involve long payment and purchase cycles, competitive bidding, qualification requirements, delays or changes in funding, extensive specification development and changes, price negotiations and milestone requirements.  An announced award of a governmental contract is not equivalent to a finalized executed contract and does not assure that orders will be issued and filled.  Government agencies also often retain some portion of fees payable upon completion of a project and collection of contract fees may be delayed for long periods, which can negatively impact both prime contractors and subcontractors. The company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any statements in this release, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.

SOURCE Spartan Motors Chassis, Inc.