Area Development
Shyft Group, a manufacturer of delivery and specialty vehicles, is expanding to produce electric commercial vehicles in Charlotte, Michigan. The $16 million project is expected to create 680 jobs.

The company will make site improvements, infrastructure upgrades and add new equipment related to EV production at its current location. With the investment Shyft will have the capacity to produce up to 3,000 EVs per year in Charlotte.

“We’re extremely proud to invest in electric vehicle production here in our home state of Michigan where our company has been headquartered for nearly 50 years,” said President and CEO Daryl Adams. “We are thankful to be part of the Charlotte community and look forward to bringing the future of fleets to our operations there.”

The project is being supported by an $800,000 Jobs Ready Michigan Program performance-based grant to assist with recruitment and training.

“Congratulations to the Shyft team on your continued growth and success. This investment underscores the strength of your business powered by our state’s talented workforce and leadership in mobility and advanced manufacturing,” noted Quentin Messer, Jr., CEO of the MEDC and President and Chair of the Michigan Strategic Fund. “We are grateful to the Governor, bipartisan legislators, and local officials for their continued support of the Jobs Ready Michigan Program, which supports upskilling and training opportunities for our friends and neighbors across the state. We’re grateful to Shyft for this vote of confidence in Michigan and look forward to working together to grow, add jobs, and provide greater opportunity in Mid-Michigan."

As an incentive The Lansing Economic Area Partnership plans to provide staff time and resources in support of the project. In addition The Shyft Group plans to work closely with Capital Area Michigan Works! in identifying and recruiting talent.

“This is another critical addition to the growing electric vehicle Capital of America here in the Lansing Michigan region! From their family-owned roots in Charlotte, the Shyft Group’s impressive growth into an innovative global heavyweight industry player has blossomed under CEO Daryl Adam’s leadership and team,” added Bob Trezise, President and CEO of the Lansing Economic Area Partnership (LEAP). “The competition from other communities and states is intense for a growing company like Shyft and overall for electric vehicles and adjacent industry projects. Shyft’s continued commitment to invest locally has been clear and our region is better off because of it.”

The Shyft Group, formerly known as Spartan Motors, is an American automobile design company that designs, engineers and manufactures specialty chassis, specialty vehicles, truck bodies and aftermarket parts for the recreational vehicle, government services, and delivery and service markets.