The Shyft Group has successfully completed the acquisition of XL Fleet as planned, initially announced by Spruce Power last month. The acquisition includes the option to extend employment opportunities to XL Fleet technical talent, assume a short-term leased facility including equipment in Wixom, Mich., and support the completion of a pilot development agreement with the Department of Defense.
The incoming team members will be based either in Plymouth or the 24,655-square-foot Wixom Technology Center which will continue to be used for technical and test work as Shyft evaluates how the facility best complements its footprint going forward.
The DOD pilot program Shyft assumed as part of the acquisition supports the completion of an awarded contract by the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) of the Department of Defense and the U.S. Army’s Project Manager Transportation Systems (PMTS) to prototype a fuel-saving technology for military vehicles. Shyft will help complete the application of sustainable fleet vehicle technologies that can extend the operational range of military tactical vehicles, while supporting troops’ safety and providing significant fuel and operating cost savings and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.