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Spartan Motors
1541 Reynolds Rd. Charlotte, MI 48813 P: 517.543.6400
spartanmotors.com

Spartan Motors Expands Leadership Team, Names Tom Gorman as Chief Operating Officer

CHARLOTTE, Mich., June 24 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — Spartan Motors, Inc.
(Nasdaq: SPAR) today announced it has named automotive industry executive Tom
Gorman
to the newly created position of chief operating officer. Gorman will
oversee Spartan’s current four business units in addition to implementing
strategic growth initiatives.

Spartan Motors, the leading manufacturer of custom chassis and
emergency-rescue vehicles, reported Gorman is responsible for increasing
productivity, improving overall business operations and helping Spartan
strengthen its position in its market segments. In his new role, Gorman will
also work closely with other members of the leadership team to execute the
company’s strategy, including lean operations implementation, global
expansion, and new market entries through product development and strategic
acquisitions.

Gorman brings 26 years of management, operations and manufacturing
expertise to the position, including extensive experience in sales,
engineering, lean manufacturing, product launches and mergers and acquisitions
integration. Gorman was previously president of business development and
engineering at Southfield, Mich.-based Fluid Routing Solutions.

“We are very pleased to welcome Tom to our senior management team with his
proven track record of success in profitably managing multiple strategic
business units and facilities, both domestically and internationally,” said
John Sztykiel, president and chief executive officer of Spartan Motors. “Tom
brings tremendous experience and knowledge to our management team and much
needed depth. He understands the process of delivering highly engineered
niche products using lean manufacturing principles and built exactly to
customer specifications, and this background will be invaluable as we strive
to transform existing and new market niches from commercial to custom.”

During his time at Fluid Routing Solutions, Gorman managed sales,
operations and engineering across four divisions. Previously, he served as
president and COO of North American operations for ZF Lemforder Corporation,
where he was responsible for nine manufacturing and assembly plants. Gorman
also spent over 17 years at automotive and systems components maker Dana
Corporation
, rising to business development director of the modules and
systems division.

“I am excited to join Spartan Motors and lend both my operations and
management experience and outside perspective to the leadership team,” said
Gorman. “The unique balance of Spartan’s track record as a strong publicly
traded company with its entrepreneurial spirit and tremendous opportunity for
growth is inspiring, and I look forward to bringing best practices across the
business units for the benefit of our customers, partners and other
stakeholders.”

Gorman earned a master of business administration degree from the
University of Michigan and a bachelor’s degree from the University of Detroit.

About Spartan Motors

Spartan Motors, Inc. (theshyftgroup.com) designs, engineers and
manufactures custom chassis and vehicles for the recreational vehicle, fire
truck, ambulance, emergency-rescue and custom vehicle markets. The company’s
brand names – Spartan(TM), Crimson Fire(TM), Crimson Fire Aerials(TM), and
Road Rescue(TM) – are known for quality, value, service and being the first to
market with innovative products. The company employs approximately 1,200 at
facilities in Michigan, Pennsylvania, South Carolina and South Dakota.
Spartan reported sales of $844.4 million in 2008 and is focused on becoming
the premier manufacturer of custom vehicles and chassis in North America.

This release contains forward-looking statements, including, without
limitation, statements concerning our business, future plans and objectives
and the performance of our products. Forward looking statements are
identifiable by words such as “believe,” “anticipate,” “will,” “sustain,” and
“continue.” These forward-looking statements involve certain risks and
uncertainties that ultimately may not prove to be accurate. Actual results
and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such
statements. Technical complications may arise that could prevent the prompt
implementation of the plans outlined above. The company cautions that these
forward-looking statements are further qualified by other factors including,
but not limited to, those set forth in the company’s Annual Report on Form
10-K filing and other filings with the United States Securities and Exchange
Commission
(available at http://www.sec.gov). Government contracts and
subcontracts typically involve long payment and purchase cycles, competitive
bidding, qualification requirements, delays or changes in funding, extensive
specification development and changes, price negotiations and milestone
requirements. An announced award of a governmental contract is not equivalent
to a finalized executed contract and does not assure that orders will be
issued and filled. Government agencies also often retain some portion of fees
payable upon completion of a project and collection of contract fees may be
delayed for long periods, which can negatively impact both prime contractors
and subcontractors. The company undertakes no obligation to publicly update
or revise any statements in this release, whether as a result of new
information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.

SOURCE Spartan Motors, Inc.


06/24/2009

CONTACT: John Sztykiel, CEO, or Jim Knapp, CFO, of Spartan Motors, Inc.,
+1-517-543-6400; or Jeff Lambert or Ryan McGrath,
[email protected], of Lambert, Edwards & Associates, Inc.,
+1-616-233-0500