Spartan Motors Board Appoints Search Committee for CEO Successor

       Board Members Also Approve Appointment of Executive Search Firm

    CHARLOTTE, Mich., Feb. 28 Spartan Motors, Inc.
today announced that a special committee of the Company's board
of directors, comprised solely of outside directors, has been formed to
conduct a process of finding a replacement for outgoing chairman and CEO
George Sztykiel.  The board has also decided to retain an executive search
firm to help facilitate this process.
    Spartan Motors, a Charlotte, Mich.-based manufacturer of custom chassis
and emergency vehicles, said the board of directors is responsible for putting
into place a strategic growth plan for the Company, including evaluating the
leadership structure.
    "I am confident in the committee's ability, as it looks both inside and
outside the Company, to produce the right structure and find a successor who
will capitalize on our current standing in the industries we serve," said
Sztykiel, who announced in January that he would not seek re-election in 2002.
"We have renewed our focus on our core competencies, just announced a great
fourth quarter, and are excited about future growth opportunities in all our
market segments."
    Sztykiel, 71, founded Spartan Motors 25 years ago when he and three
colleagues began building fire truck chassis and cabs in a small garage in
Charlotte.  Spartan focused on fire trucks for the next decade, using custom
chassis to differentiate itself from its mass-produced competition.  Looking
for ways to leverage its engineering expertise to related markets, the Company
began building custom chassis for Class A motorhomes in 1986, followed by
other heavy-duty specialty vehicles.
    Spartan Motors, Inc. (http://www.spartanmotors.com ) is a leading developer and
manufacturer of custom chassis for recreational vehicles, fire trucks,
ambulances and other specialty vehicles.  The Company also owns fire and
rescue vehicle manufacturers Luverne Fire Apparatus, Quality Manufacturing and
Road Rescue, Inc.