Utilimaster
US truck manufacturers
title: "Utilimaster" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["motor-vehicle-manufacturers-based-in-indiana", "automotive-companies-of-the-united-states", "companies-based-in-elkhart-county,-indiana", "contract-vehicle-manufacturers"] description: "US truck manufacturers" topic_path: "geography/india" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Utilimaster" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0
::summary US truck manufacturers ::
::data[format=table title="Infobox company"]
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| name | Utilimaster |
| products | Multi-stop trucks |
| parent | The Shyft Group |
| homepage | |
| foundation | 1973 |
| location_city | Bristol, Indiana |
| location_country | U.S. |
| :: |
| 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 = | 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.
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.
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.
Products
::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/81/1992_Aeromate_UMC_2.75_Step_Van,_front_left.jpg" caption="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. 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. With a 5500 lb GVWR the vehicle's payload was 2050 lb 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.
::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/19/Isuzu_Reach,_FedEx_Express(1).jpg" caption="[[Isuzu Reach]] 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. 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. 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.
References
References
- (2009-11-19). "Spartan Motors Announces Agreement to Acquire Utilimaster Corporation". PR Newswire Association LLC..
- (2010-09-20). "Allied Specialty Vehicles, Inc. Announces The Acquisition of Road Rescue". Road Rescue.
- (1998-09-04). "GM To Sell Chassis Business". The Associated Press.
- (December 1988). "Light Trucks Specs (supplement)". FM Business Publications.
- Siegel, Stewart. (July 1990). "The New Models for 1991: Light Trucks". FM Business Publications.
- Mele, Jim. (July 1990). "The New Models for 1991: Mid-Range Trucks". FM Business Publications.
- (2011-03-09). "Indiana Facility to Produce Isuzu Commercial Vehicles". Inside Indiana Business.
- "Utilimaster Unveils New Velocity M3 Walk-in Cargo Van at the 2020 Work Truck Show".
- (2024-03-06). "Delivery Drivers to Benefit from In-Vehicle Cooling Systems from Utilimaster®".
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