SPAR Spartan Motors Inc

Spartan ERV (Emergency Response Vehicles), a business unit of Spartan Motors, Inc. (Nasdaq:SPAR), announced today that the City of Toronto Fire Services (TFS) has awarded Spartan ERV, and their authorized dealer Dependable Emergency Vehicles, an order for 12 custom fire apparatus.

The Spartan ERV pumpers will be built on the Metro Star from Spartan Chassis with a Cummins 400HP ISL engine. All units in the order include the Advanced Protection System (APS) from Spartan Chassis. This system offers a number of industry-leading innovations including outboard sensors, side impact airbag protection, full side curtain airbags, driver's knee airbags and intelligent seat belts, as well as steering wheel mounted driver airbags and officer knee airbags. Spartan cab/chassis are designed, engineered and tested to meet stringent ECE-R29 and other structural safety standards.

"Our APS has clearly established Spartan as the leader in providing firefighters safe transport to/from the scene," said Dennis Schneider, President, Spartan Emergency Response. "This award from Toronto Fire Services is our most significant validation since the August launch and we expect this momentum will continue. Combining the merits of APS with the other dimensions of the Spartan ERV value proposition, puts our dealers, such as Dependable Emergency Vehicles, in an excellent position to meet and exceed the unique needs of our customers." 

The Star Series pump system includes a side-mount panel producing 2,000 gallons per minute, a cold weather package for extreme winter environments and capacity to carry 600 gallons of water. The stainless steel body was custom designed to meet the needs of the Toronto Fire Services.

Once delivered, TFS will have 24 Spartan ERV pumpers in its fleet making it one of the largest users of Spartan ERV apparatus. Dependable Emergency Vehicles provides a broad range of Spartan ERV products to TFS and will soon deliver a heavy rescue squad to this important customer.

About Spartan ERV

Spartan ERV™ is a leading manufacturer of custom fire trucks and other rescue vehicles. A business unit of Spartan Motors, Inc. (Nasdaq:SPAR), Spartan ERV™ is committed to quality, performance and innovation. Drawing on more than 130 years of excellence in fire truck manufacturing, Spartan ERV™ manufactures a full line of pumpers, tankers, rescues, aerials, quick-attack/urban interface vehicles and other emergency-rescue vehicles from its facilities in Florida, Pennsylvania and South Dakota. For more information, visit www.spartanerv.com.

About Spartan Motors

Spartan Motors, Inc. designs, engineers and manufactures specialty chassis, specialty vehicles, truck bodies and aftermarket parts for the recreational vehicle, emergency response, government services, defense, and delivery and service markets. The company's brand names – Spartan™, Spartan ERV™ and Utilimaster® – are known for quality, performance, service and first-to-market innovation. The company employs approximately 1,700 associates at facilities in Michigan, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Indiana, Florida and Texas. Spartan reported sales of $426 million in 2011 and is focused on becoming a global leader in the design, engineering and manufacture of specialty vehicles and chassis. Visit Spartan Motors at www.spartanmotors.com

About Dependable Emergency Vehicles

Dependable Emergency Vehicles located in Brampton, Ontario, Canada is a Division of Dependable Truck and Tank, Ltd. Dependable Emergency Vehicles prides itself in quality products and exceptional customer service. Dependable Emergency Vehicles has been a Spartan ERV dealer since 2007. Dependable Truck and Tank manufactures custom fire trucks, fuel oil, water and other bulk liquid tanker trucks and was established in 1975 with the creation of the Emergency Vehicles Division in 1980. For more information, visit www.dependable.ca.

CONTACT: Russell T. Chick
         Corporate Director of Marketing
         Spartan Motors, Inc.
         517.997.3852