There’s no getting around the fact many people think the U.S. Postal Service’s new delivery vehicle looks a little weird.
There’s also no denying that Oshkosh Defense’s $482 million initial contract to produce tens of thousands of them at its Spartanburg County plant will have not only a significant impact on the local economy but produce substantial environmental benefits through the biggest postal-fleet upgrade in decades.
Oshkosh Defense has invested in electrification for nearly 30 years starting with the introduction of its first electric boom lift in the 1990s, according to Bent. The company continues to develop electric vehicles and is currently producing fire trucks, refuse-collection vehicles, concrete mixers and other vehicles for customers.
When completely configured later this year, the Spartanburg plant will incorporate innovative features to aid the production of the tens of thousands of NGDVs expected to roll off the assembly line, Bent said.
“We are proud to be making a difference with our Next Generation Delivery Vehicles, and we’re proud to be building them in Spartanburg, South Carolina,” he said.