Shyft Invests $16M into Charlotte EV Plant

The Shyft Group plans to invest in and expand the company’s facilities in Charlotte, Michigan, which will enable production of commercial electric vehicles for its Blue Arc EV Solutions brand, launched last year.

Shyft will invest approximately $16 million for expansion and improvements in facilities as well as new equipment related to the production of EVs.

“We’re extremely proud to invest in EV 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.”

Check out this video walkaround of the Blue Arc electric van! 

Shyft Expansion Details

The Charlotte campus, with seven facilities, is currently home to multiple Shyft product lines, including:

• Walk-in delivery vans.
• Work truck chassis. 
• Motorhome chassis.

According to the company, the addition of Blue Arc EV production will help support the company’s previous commitment towards employment levels on the Charlotte campus, with Blue Arc bringing a wide range of engineering, manufacturing and technical jobs to Charlotte.

With the expansion, upgrades to facilities, and installation of new equipment, Shyft will have the capacity to produce up to 3,000 EVs per year in Charlotte. The company previously announced an initial customer pre-order for 2,000 medium-duty Class 3, 4 and 5 all-electric delivery vehicles.

The Shyft Group’s expansion is being supported by co-investment and business incentives from the city of Charlotte, the Lansing Economic Area Partnership (LEAP), and the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC).

"That Charlotte will be home to this important commercial segment of the EV vehicle market is fantastic news,” said Mayor Michael Armitage. “The Shyft Group has been a vital part of the city's business community for many, many years and we are proud to continue partnering with their growing company."