NOVI, Mich. – The Shyft Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: SHYF), parent company of Spartan RV Chassis and its Red Diamond aftermarket division and a North American leader in specialty vehicle manufacturing, assembly, and upfit for the commercial, retail, and service specialty vehicle markets, announced that its management team will be meeting with investors at the Raymond James Industrial and Energy Showcase today (Aug. 8, 2024).
About The Shyft Group
The Shyft Group is the North American leader in specialty vehicle manufacturing, assembly, and upfit for the commercial, retail, and service specialty vehicle markets. Our customers include first-to-last mile delivery companies across vocations, federal, state, and local government entities; the trades; and utility and infrastructure segments. The Shyft Group is organized into two core business units: Shyft Fleet Vehicles and Services and Shyft Specialty Vehicles. Today, its family of brands include Utilimaster®, Blue Arc EV Solutions, Royal® Truck Body, DuraMag® and Magnum®, Strobes-R-Us, Spartan® RV Chassis, Red Diamond Aftermarket Solutions, Builtmore Contract Manufacturing, and Independent Truck Upfitters. The Shyft Group and its go-to-market brands are well known in their respective industries for quality, durability, and first-to-market innovation. The Company employs approximately 3,000 employees and contractors across campuses, and operates facilities in Arizona, California, Florida, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Michigan, Missouri, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, and Saltillo, Mexico. The Company reported sales of $872 million in 2023. Learn more at TheShyftGroup.com.
Northpoint Commercial Finance Sr. VPs Russell Baqir and John Durnien jointly announced the promo@on of Brian Marfiz to the newly established role of Manager of Business Development. In this capacity, Marfiz is responsible for driving new and organic sales growth nationally, performance management, budgeting, and coordination with the company‘s designated group of business development directors.
A marine industry veteran with a dozen years of commercial finance and floorplan experience – five years of which have been with Northpoint – Marfiz brings both a great deal of experience and enthusiasm to his new role. In his previous position as a director of business development with Northpoint, Marfiz managed dealer development throughout six states in the Great Lakes Region.
“Brian’s leadership and proven performance in the field over the past several years led to his promotion in this new position,” said Durnien. “As an organization, Northpoint is focused on continually improving our internal team structure so we can deliver the best customer support and service possible for our valued clients. Brian’s role on a national level in this new capacity will certainly help us achieve this goal.”
About Northpoint Commercial Finance
Northpoint Commercial Finance, with offices in AlphareVa, GA, and Burlington, ON, is owned by LBC Capital, a subsidiary of Laurentian Bank of Canada. Northpoint combines experience with advanced technologies, fresh ideas, streamlined processes, and a customer focus formed specifically for the varied needs and goals of each business. Northpoint’s inventory finance offerings drive sales, enhance cash flow, and improve profitability for both manufacturer and dealers.
More information about Northpoint and their offerings is available at www.northpointcf.com.
“We are extremely excited to represent Jaeger-UniTek Sealing Solutions and expand RV aftermarket exposure on their Flip ‘N Seal Slide-Out System. This patented one-piece sealing system is quickly becoming the RV OEM standard for slide-out installations. Utilizing high performance automotive grade UV stable polymers, their one component design is a far superior system compared to traditional 2-piece seal designs,” said Reese Bischoff, RVLI, LLC, owner and national sales manager. “All Jaeger-UniTek Sealing Solutions products are proudly manufactured in the USA and will make a strong addition to our vendor portfolio.”
Manufactured in an automotive IATF Certified manufacturing facility, Jaeger-UniTek Sealing Systems, Inc. utilizes both German and Japanese production technology to deliver high performance engineered solutions for its customers.
“We are very excited to partner with RVLI, LLC. Their firsthand knowledge of the RV Aftermarket and industry relationships will be an important part of our growth strategy moving forward. Our Flip ‘N Seal Slide-Out Sealing System has been a game changer for the RV OEM market and we look forward to continued success in the RV aftermarket,” said Colton Phelan, Jaeger-UniTek’s vice president of sales.
Based in Peachtree City, Ga., RVLI LLC has been a leading aftermarket sales representative agency for over 20 years, representing the finest brands in the United States and Canada within the RV and marine industries.
Ryan Juday, left, president of KZ RV, and Colin Reilly, KZ RV general counsel & vice president.
SHIPSHEWANA, Ind. – As the new school year begins, KZ Recreational Vehicles is giving back to the community by donating backpacks filled with essential classroom items and gift cards to 73 K-4 teachers within the Westview School Corporation. This generous gesture aims to help offset the personal expenses teachers often incur for classroom necessities and to show appreciation for their dedication, according to a release.
The donation, which includes a total of 73 backpacks and gift cards, was delivered to Meadowview Elementary School for distribution among three schools: Meadowview Elementary School, Topeka Elementary School, and Shipshewana-Scott Elementary School. This initiative is part of KZ Recreational Vehicles’ commitment to supporting local educators and enhancing the learning environment for students.
Ryan Juday, President of KZ Recreational Vehicles, commented, “As the school year starts, we are proud to assist 73 teachers with backpacks filled with essential items and a gift card to help offset the costs they often cover personally for classroom supplies. Teachers enrich the lives of our children, and this small gesture is our way of showing appreciation. This is our fourth year doing this, and we look forward to continuing this tradition.”
By providing these essential supplies and financial support, KZ Recreational Vehicles hopes to alleviate some of the financial burden on teachers and support their invaluable work in shaping the future of our children.
Pictured along with KZ employees including KZ RV President Ryan Juday (third from left), KZ RV General Counsel & VP Colin Reilly (sixth from right), are (holding backpacks) Superintendent Dr. Randy Miller, Meadowview Principal Drew Graber, Topeka Elementary School Principal Allisa McDonald, and Shipshe Scott Principal Amy Garber.
LONSDALE, South Australia – REDARC announces the availability of the Manager Alpha, an advanced battery management system and smart charger tailored for the massive power demands of Van Life, campers, RVs, and power-hungry overlanders. Currently available in 75A, and 100A models, the Manager Alpha100 can charge three times faster than the current Manager30, according to a company release. With the Manager Alpha on board, there will always be enough power for living on the road, capable of powering anything from industrial cooktops to fridges and air conditioners.
The Manager Alpha is REDARC’s response to the call for more power, faster charging, and greater efficiency, the release continued. It is the only system of its kind designed to charge large battery banks rapidly and safely through shore power (AC), vehicle (DC), or solar inputs. Capable of charging a 600Ah (lithium) battery bank from flat to full in less than 8 hours, the Manager Alpha can also set input current limits if necessary. When paired with the RedVision display, the Manager Alpha provides market-leading accuracy in real-time charge and battery level information, delivering precision up to five times greater than that of its leading competitors. With the accompanying RedVison app, users can enjoy uninterrupted exploration, secure in the knowledge that their energy needs are in control and available at the tip of their fingers. The latest Bluetooth 5.1 technology delivers reliability over distances up to 140ft, nearly 1.5x further than the competition.
“We’re thrilled to be able to meet the needs of vans, campers, RV’s, and anyone with massive power demands,” said REDARC Global President Peter Favilla. “This market segment has unique and demanding power requirements, and the Manager Alpha is designed to meet those challenges head-on. With its unmatched charging speed and efficiency, the Manager Alpha ensures that adventurers can focus on their journey without worrying about their power supply.”
Adding even more peace of mind, the Manager Alpha ensures the vehicle’s start battery remains charged by automatically utilizing excess solar power. Additionally, with just the press of a button, the Manager Alpha can revive a start battery in the event it dies. Balancing power with a compact design, it’s up to 55% smaller and 28% lighter than competing systems that require multiple parts to deliver the same features, leaving more room for adventures when space is at a premium. Designed, built, and tested in Australia, the Manager Alpha adheres to the most rigorous global vibration standards and can continue charging in the most extreme temperatures, from -4 degrees °F to 140 degrees °F. It stands as a testament to REDARC’s commitment to building the toughest products on the market.
Over 45 years ago, REDARC began to revolutionize the way people enjoy the outdoors by giving customers the ability to power electronics from any vehicle anywhere and feel confident towing off-road. REDARC products enable having a fridge full of cold drinks, keeping the lights on at camp, powering tools and Wi-Fi to get the job done anywhere, and towing your RV or trailer safely. With the ability to monitor and control the power usage with REDARC, customers can enjoy the convenience of modern technology in the great outdoors for longer. Engineered, tested and produced in Australia, REDARC products allow you to power your lifestyle safely and confidently wherever your adventure takes you.
SEATTLE – Peace Vans, the largest Volkswagen campervan repair and restoration shop in the United States, today announced its launch of a full line of campervan conversions developed exclusively for the Volkswagen ID.Buzz. The conversions, designed for any camping scenario and available for pre-order beginning today, can quickly transform the interior of any ID.Buzz into a sleek, fully-equipped mobile home with the Buzz.Camper conversion, a chef’s kitchen with the Buzz.Box, or a comfortable sleeping platform and kitchen combination with the Buzz.Box.Sleeper.
Peace Vans will begin delivering their conversions via select dealers, direct shipping, or onsite installation in November of 2024.
“Since the first days of Peace Vans, the single biggest question we’ve been asked is, ‘Where’s the new VW version of the beloved old VW camper?’” said Harley Sitner, Owner of Peace Vans. “We’ve been waiting for the ID.Buzz for some time. We were fortunate enough to experience some early pre-production units, loved what we saw, and decided to build out entirely new solutions crafted exclusively for the ID.Buzz. We couldn’t be more excited to be part of this project.”
Meet Peace Vans’ new camping conversions for the Volkswagen ID.Buzz:
Buzz.Camper. The Buzz.Camper converts your ID.Buzz into a fully-functioning mobile home with a complete retrofit of the interior to include a lounge/seating area that quickly converts to a bed, interior storage cabinets that include a cooktop, sink, water storage and everything else you need in a small-footprint campervan. This conversion requires the removal of both rows of seats and there are no current provisions for passengers in the rear. A Department of Transportation-approved solution for rear seats is under development.
Buzz.Box. The Buzz.Box is a custom-built rear chef’s kitchen designed specifically for the ID.Buzz. Constructed of high quality lightweight materials, and securely installed in the rear of the ID.Buzz (requires the removal of the third row of seats), the Buzz.Box has everything you need for the ultimate camping experience. From a 35L refrigerator to an integrated cooktop, water storage, sink, and multiple cutting/prep surfaces, you’ll be able to extend the Buzz.Box out from the van and cook meals comfortably under the rear lift gate. Peace Vans has also creatively engineered several surprises in the Buzz.Box including a wireless charging station, integrated lighting and sound, and a modular design that is attractive and complementary to the wonderful color schemes of the ID.Buzz
Buzz.Box.Sleeper. The Buzz.Box.Sleeper offers all the features of the Buzz.Box, but with a bed. It extends the functionality of the Buzz.Box into an almost queen size sleeping platform inside the van. Simply fold down the second row of seats and extend the sleeping platform and mattress into the van. The high quality mattress nearly guarantees a peaceful night’s rest. And, if your ID.Buzz has the glass roof, enjoy sleeping with a perfect view of the stars.
“I’ve been a lifetime VW enthusiast – Rabbits, GTI, Buses, etc. – and have been waiting for the ID.Buzz for years,” said Peace Vans customer Ed Valazero. “When I learned Peace Vans was going to build camper conversions for the ID.Buzz, I literally jumped on the phone and got in the queue. The ability to buy an ID.Buzz directly from Peace Vans with camper features is a dream come true for me and my family.”
Pricing
Buzz.Camper: Pricing for the Buzz.Camper will be released in Q3 of 2024.
Buzz.Box: $7,995 plus shipping, applicable taxes and installation.
Buzz.Box.Sleeper: $10,995 plus shipping, applicable taxes and installation.
Buy an ID.Buzz directly from Peace Vans’ Exclusive ID.Buzz Units
In addition to the announcement of these three products, Peace Vans will also provide a limited number of pre-built ID.Buzz campervans for sale directly to customers. Customers may order an ID.Buzz with any of the camper conversions pre-installed. The exclusive units available through Peace Vans will be limited in both quantity and configuration. Customers will benefit from the simplicity of one stop ordering for their ID.Buzz camper.
For customers interested in the iconic “pop top” feature, Peace Vans will be developing a pop top throughout 2025 with availability sometime in late 2025. Customers who purchase any of the above products will be placed in a preferential queue for that feature when it becomes available and is approved for the U.S. market.
To reserve a product, installation slot, or a complete vehicle with a conversion, customers may place a refundable deposit at www.peacevans.com/idbuzz
Test Drive an ID.Buzz Camper from Peace Vans
Starting in late 2024, Peace Vans Rentals will begin featuring ID.Buzz campers in their rental fleet. This will be the first opportunity in the U.S. for customers to rent and try an ID.Buzz. Those who rent and then choose to purchase an ID.Buzz camper from Peace Vans will receive a partial credit towards their purchase. Additional information will be released in late 2024. Interested individuals can sign up for early access at Peace Vans Rentals.
About Peace Vans
Founded in 2013 with a focus on connection, community and the great outdoors, Peace Vans is the brainchild of Seattle entrepreneur and former Microsoft manager Harley Sitner. Whether seeking repair and restoration of a vintage VW Vanagon, wanting to convert an old VW to electric, interested in renting from a fleet of modern and vintage vans for a Pacific Northwest (or Baja!) vacation, or looking to purchase a new modern camper built on the Mercedes-Benz Metris platform, Peace Vans has road trip magic covered. Find Peace Vans’ family of four businesses in the heart of Seattle, WA.
There were 35,014 retail registrations recorded in June 2024, which is a 20.7% decline compared to the 44,170 total in June 2023, according to Statistical Surveys Inc., the Grand Rapids, Mich.-based sub subsidiary of Trader Interactive that monitors retail and consumer data for the RV industry.
Year to date, there have been 188,843 retail registrations in 2024, which is a 11.2% decrease versus the 212,691 total for the same period in 2023.
For comparison, the RV Industry Association (RVIA) reported 25,308 wholesale shipments in June 2024 and 178,596 units shipped year to date.
UNITED STATES
Travel Trailers – 21,523 in June 2024 (vs. 26,858 in June 2023; a 19.9% decline). Market share leaders: Forest River Inc. (40.9%), THOR Industries Inc. (39.9%), Grand Design RV Co. (6.8%).
Fifth-Wheels – 4,983 (6,394; -22.1%). Market share leaders: THOR (40.8%), Forest River (28.5%), Grand Design (14.5%).
Camping Trailers – 523 (830; -37.7%). Market share leaders: Forest River (65.6%), Aliner (17.7%), Purple Line LLC (4.8%).
Park Models – 239 (264; -9.5%). Market share leaders: Cavco Industries (19.7%), Champion Homes (19.2%), Kropf Mfg. Co. Inc. (16.3%).
Class A – 740 (941; -21.4%). Market share leaders: THOR (48.9%), Forest River (16.5%), REV Recreation Group (16.2%).
Class C – 1,727 (2,104; -17.9%). Market share leaders: THOR (50.6%), Forest River (23.6%), Winnebago Motorized (11.3%).
Class B – 850 (1,318; -35.5%). Market share leaders: THOR (39.9%), Winnebago Motorized (28.0%), REV Recreation Group (7.8%).
CANADA
Travel Trailers – 3,350 in June 2024 (vs. 4,001 in June 2023; a 16.3% decline). Market share leaders: THOR Industries Inc. (40.5%), Forest River Inc. (37.0%), Grand Design RV Co. (5.9 %).
Fifth-Wheels – 536 (614; -12.7%). Market share leaders: THOR (45.1%), Forest River (22.9%), Grand Design (20.1%).
Rendering of the General RV Supercenter in Salisbury, N.C.
WIXOM, Mich. – With up to 150 full-time jobs with an average salary of $65,000 available at its new Salisbury, N.C., location, General RV Center will host a two-day community hiring event Aug. 14-15, according to a release.
General RV representatives will meet and interview candidates from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Hampton Inn at 1001 Klumac Road in Salisbury. Jobs available include sales associates, technicians, service advisors and parts representative positions.
In August 2023, General RV, the largest family-owned RV dealership in the U.S., broke ground on its first North Carolina location, just outside of Charlotte. The 71,000-square-foot facility will offer a wide range of RVs, in addition to outdoor products and accessories. With more than 30 service bays (including a six-bay body shop) and enough space to house 700 RVs on the lot, it will be the largest family-owned dealership within approximately 400 to 500 miles in the state.
“The Salisbury workforce is known for their high level of skill and strong work ethic,” said Tari Krupinski, Director of Recruiting at General RV. “We are excited to tap into this talent pool and welcome new team members to our GRV team as we prepare for the fall opening.”
To learn more about jobs available, go to generalrv.com/hiringnc. Sign-up is encouraged, but walk-ins are welcome to attend.
About General RV
Founded in Michigan in 1962, General RV Center is one of the nation’s premier RV dealers. The company currently operates full-service dealerships in Michigan, Illinois, Ohio, Virginia, Florida, Utah and Pennsylvania. Each location offers a large selection of RVs for sale, RV service facilities and retail RV parts and accessories. In 2023, General RV broke ground on a second location in Utah (opening early 2025) and its first-ever location in North Carolina (opening in fall 2024) bringing its nationwide network to 20 locations. Visit GeneralRV.com for more information.
and Shyft Specialty Vehicles
