Spartan Chassis Announces $52 Million Subcontract for MRAPs

CHARLOTTE, Mich., Sept. 27 -- Spartan Chassis, Inc., a subsidiary of Spartan Motors, Inc. , today announced it has received a new $52 million subcontract order from Force Protection, Inc. to support the production of Cougar series advanced tactical wheeled vehicles.

Spartan said it will supply and integrate key chassis components for the vehicles, slated for use by the U.S. military, by March 2008. This new order brings the Mich.-based custom chassis manufacturer's total 2007 MRAP subcontract awards to approximately $317 million, more than triple its military subcontract orders in all of 2006.

"This award validates Spartan's ongoing ability to meet the critical demands of both our OEM partners and the U.S. military," said Richard Schalter, president of Spartan Chassis. "Spartan is once again primed to leverage our specialty chassis expertise, along with our increased production capacity, to assist Force Protection in providing high-survivability vehicles to our troops."

MRAP vehicles are prized by the military for their V-shaped hulls, raised chassis and improved armor, which help protect servicemen and women from improvised explosive devices, or IEDs, mines and other hazards of war.

About Spartan Chassis, Inc.:

Spartan Chassis, Inc., a subsidiary of Spartan Motors, Inc. , is a leading developer and manufacturer of custom chassis for recreational vehicles, fire trucks and specialty vehicles. Spartan Motors, which also manufactures emergency rescue vehicles under the brand names of Crimson Fire, Crimson Fire Aerials and Road Rescue, reported sales of $445 million in 2006 and is focused on becoming the premier manufacturer of specialty vehicles and chassis in North America. Visit www.spartanchassis.com for more information.

About Force Protection, Inc.:

Force Protection, Inc. , first to answer the call to duty for the urgent need to bring lifesaving mine-resistant ambush protected vehicles to U.S. troops in combat, is an American company whose vehicles, Cougar and Buffalo, have a proven track record where it matters most -- on the battlefield. These specialty vehicles protect against landmines, hostile fire, and Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs, commonly referred to as roadside bombs). Force Protection's mine and ballistic protection technologies are among the most advanced in the world. The vehicles are manufactured outside Charleston, S.C. For more information on Force Protection and its vehicles, visit www.forceprotection.net.