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Spartan Motors Completes Repurchase of Half a Million Shares

24 April 2000

Spartan Motors Completes Repurchase of Half a Million Shares

    CHARLOTTE, Mich., April 24 Spartan Motors, Inc.
(Nasdaq: SPAR) today announced it has completed the repurchase of 558,000
shares of its outstanding common stock.  The repurchases were exercised in
open market transactions at an average price of $4.19 per share.
    The Charlotte, Mich.-based manufacturer of custom chassis, emergency
vehicles and buses said the buyback is part of Spartan Motors' board
authorization in November 1999 to buy back up to 2 million shares, or nearly
16 percent of the Company's common stock.
    "Given the outlook and growth prospects for Spartan Motors, we intend to
continue to repurchase shares," said John Sztykiel, president and chief
operating officer.  "We are entering 2000 with a number of new opportunities
and are committed to executing our growth strategy and sustaining our share
buyback pace to build shareholder value."
    Spartan Motors, Inc. (http://www.spartanmotors.com ) is a leading developer and
manufacturer of custom chassis for fire trucks, recreational vehicles, transit
buses, school buses and other specialty vehicles.  The Company also
manufactures fire and rescue vehicle through its subsidiaries Luverne Fire
Apparatus, Quality Manufacturing and Road Rescue, Inc. and owns a majority
interest in school bus manufacturer Carpenter Industries, Inc.
    The statements contained in this news release include certain predictions
and projections that may be considered forward-looking statements by the
securities laws.  These statements involve a number of risks and
uncertainties, including but not limited to economic, competitive,
governmental and technological factors affecting the Company's operations,
markets, products, services and prices, and actual results may differ
materially.