Utilimaster Launches Class 2 Walk-in Van

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Utilimaster, a business unit of The Shyft Group, announced its latest production-ready purpose-built walk-in van, the Velocity F2. Built on a sub-10,000-pound GVWR Ford Transit chassis, the Velocity F2 combines fuel efficiency with the cargo space, access, and load capacity similar to a traditional walk-in delivery van.

The company is taking production orders for the Velocity F2 now.

Utilimaster has expanded their product portfolio to include this Class 2 purpose-built walk-in van to meet the rapidly growing global e-commerce and delivery demand.

“Our vehicle designs have always been a direct reflection of our clients’ specific needs and shifting industry requirements,” said Chad Heminover, President, Shyft Fleet Vehicles & Services. “Right now, our customers are asking for a solution that allows them to scale their delivery fleets quickly, in light of the ecommerce explosion, without sacrificing load capacity or efficiency. The Velocity F2 gives parcel delivery fleets the flexibility they need to activate a large driver pool, service more customers, and maintain longer routes, consistent with increased demand.”

Benefits of the Velocity F2 supplementing leading parcel delivery company fleets include: 

• The total cost of ownership and operation is lower than Class 3-6 vehicles.
• Drivers of Class 2 vehicles do not need a commercial driver’s license to operate.
• Ease of compliance with Department of Transportation (DOT) requirements.

Additional features include better fuel economy, improved safety step heights, lightweight aluminum sidewalls, 600-700 cubic feet of cargo space capacity, and a corresponding payload range of 3,700-4,300 pounds.

Utilimaster is taking production orders for large and small fleets now.

The Velocity is also offered in a Class 3 (14,000-pound) vehicle, available on both the Ford Transit (Velocity F3) and the Mercedes Sprinter (Velocity M3) chassis.

This past June, the company—formerly known as Spartan Motors, Inc.—rebranded to The Shyft Group to be more reflective of its next phase of business transformation focused on high-growth commercial, retail, and service specialty vehicle markets and to follow the divestiture of its Emergency Response business. The name represents speed, efficiency, agility, and a high-intensity approach, which corresponds with the company’s pivot in market focus and the forward momentum garnered in the work truck, specialty service, and delivery vehicle markets.