The Randy Marion Group, located in Charlotte, North Carolina, and one of the largest automotive dealership groups in the Carolinas has placed an initial order for 2,000 Blue Arc all-electric Class 3, 4, and 5 delivery vans from The Shyft Group.
Randy Marion is a longtime Shyft customer through the Utilimaster brand. Randy Marion said that fleet operators will now be able to transition fleets to EV with the Blue Arc brand. Customers will be able to pre-order online or at the dealerships starting in September, with delivery expected to begin in mid-2023.
It’s a quick turnaround for The Shyft Group. This first order comes only 14 months after the company began planning its EV products and one year after the opening of its Innovation Center—an R&D facility situated in Plymouth, Michigan.
The speed at which the vans (and underlying commercial-grade EV chassis, and accompanying portable charging station) were developed shows the company’s nearly 50 years of experience in commercial vehicle design and upfitting as well as its drive to push the EV transition forward.
The Blue Arc EV Solutions vans—a brand of The Shyft Group—offer an industry-first commercial-grade purpose-built EV chassis, a fully-reimagined from the ground up all-electric Class 3 delivery walk-in van, and a fully portable, remote-controlled charging station aka the Power Cube.
“I am extremely proud of the work the Shyft team has done positioning Blue Arc EV Solutions to meet customer needs,” said Daryl Adams, the Chief Executive Officer of The Shyft Group. “From the beginning just 14 short months ago, we’ve been confident in our EV commercial vehicle design because we have served last-mile delivery customers for nearly 50 years. We’ve hit all of our critical development milestones and most recently we’ve validated that our range will meet our customers’ expectations, and this shows not only do we know what they need, we are delivering it.”
Following receipt of government approvals this Winter, Shyft expects to finalize a multi-year purchase order with Randy Marion for the pre-ordered walk-in vans and begin production in the Midwest for a start delivery date of mid-2023 to the customer.
“Our long history working with Shyft through its Utilimaster brand and the overwhelmingly positive response to the Blue Arc Class 3 all-electric delivery walk-in van give us great confidence in the entire Blue Arc line-up, the Class 3 and 4, as well as the Class 5 that is in development now,” said Brad Sigmon, the Vice President of Sales with Randy Marion Automotive Group. “The commercial grade features from Shyft, engineered with first-hand knowledge of last-mile delivery, are a true differentiator versus the other EV options.”
The Blue Arc delivery van is a 100 percent lithium-ion battery-powered electric commercial delivery vehicle, designed for high-frequency, last-mile delivery fleets with a 150-mile range at 50 percent payload in parcel mode, with optional extended range packs available.
The Class 3-5 walk-in vans are available in body length options from 12 to 22 feet.
There are multiple chassis wheelbase options at 178”, 190”, 208”, and 230” to support different applications to maximize productivity and minimize the cost of ownership, including fuel and maintenance costs.
These vans offer a spacious cargo area and a choice of vocational packages specifically designed for functionality.
Lightweight aluminum and composite body design provide higher durability against scratches and dents while supporting modular repair.
The delivery van also features an integrated solar roof package for the power of auxiliary systems like heating and air conditioning, which make it a viable option for extreme weather locations.
With a strong focus on the end-user, Blue Arc integrates the latest in proven vehicle and driver safety technology such as 360°cameras, large in-dash HD camera displays, and proximity sensors as well as keyless and automated entry.
Designed with the driver’s comfort and productivity in mind, the delivery van is easy to drive and offers ease of entry/exit for last-mile deliveries with multi-stop routes.
“It’s incredible, but not a surprise with our team, that one year ago we were just opening our new Innovation Center in Plymouth to work on our EV solutions, and now we are making that vision a reality for our customers with pre-orders for not only the Class 3and 4 but also the Class 5 electric vehicle,” said Eric Fisher, Senior Vice President and General Manager, Shyft Innovations. “I am very pleased to work with such an outstanding dealer group like Randy Marion. They know the market well and quickly saw our EV designs will deliver the speed, efficiency, and positive impact to our customer's bottom line needed to make this a success for all.”
The Shyft Group is a leading North American specialty vehicle manufacturer, assembler, and upfitter for the commercial, retail, and service specialty vehicle markets. Some of its brands include Blue Arc EV Solutions, Utilimaster, Royal Truck Body, DuraMag Bodies, Magnum, Strobes-R-Us, Spartan RV Chassis, and Builtmore Contract Manufacturing.
With over 3,800 employees, it has facilities in Michigan, Indiana, Maine, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Florida, Missouri, California, Arizona, Texas, and Saltillo, Mexico. Company information is available at www.TheShyftGroup.com.