Spartan ERV/Smeal Changes

[Reliance]

I see that Red Sky & Red Storm have left Smeal & Dependable Emergency Vehicles in Ontario Canada has been dropped from the SpartanERV dealer list as they have taken on HME for Eastern Canada.

[TacSupport1]

New England Fire Apparatus is now selling Rosenbauer. They were the Smeal dealer for New England and parts of NY, and sold a lot of them too.

[Reliance]

New England Fire Apparatus is now selling Rosenbauer. They were the Smeal dealer for New England and parts of NY, and sold a lot of them too.

They are still listed under both Spartan ERV & Smeal.  

[TacSupport1]

They are still listed under both Spartan ERV & Smeal.

Hmmmm.

http://www.rosenbaueramerica.com/whats-n...ew-england

[Reliance]

Also New Jersey Emergency Vehicles a division of PL Custom has been dropped by Smeal and replaced by Campbell's

[Reliance]

New Jersey Emergency Vehicles is now a dealer for Rosenbauer in Northern NewJersey

[daviddnb]

When you dropped a dealer and they got a big line like Rosen, its not a good news.


They will probably lost a lot of deal and customer to Rosen with this move.


Its interesting to see all of those change in the business.


In the future , I think only 4-5 fire group will own all the business.


Oshkosh , Rosen, REV and Spartan


Who is the next........

[Reliance]

I see Red Sky has taken over Arizona & Nebraska for HME.  So that makes 2 dealers at least that have switched from Spartan ERV/Smeal to HME.

[ACPD227]

Im sure we will see alot more of this. I know here in Indiana we have both dealers and we bid against each other on the same trucks. This cant continue. Twice the overhead and 1 sale. 

[GA_Dave]

Can anyone tell me at what point they dropped the "V" from their name?  They were going by Spartan ERV for a while, even had the diamond logos with the ERV letters, along with the Spartan name.  The newest rigs I have shot only have the same old diamond Spartan logo they used for many years and I see people calling them Spartan ER now.

 

I wish they'd make up their freaking mind!

[KENTucky]

Dave,

 

They rebranded to Spartan ER around 2016.  

 

I also don't see how this can continue.  As said, there are dealers trying to bid both a Spartan ER or Smeal body or one or the other...they're competing against each other.  Now, from what I understand, the manufacturing lines have been or will be moved around.  So, in essence, although your new rig may have a Smeal badge, it may not be a true Smeal build or vice versa.  I've heard we're seeing this with all the REV ambulance companies...too much sharing (cross-breeding) is resulting in issues. 

 

Kent

[Reliance]

I see Red Storm is now listed as the Delaware-Maryland dealer for HME.  Who is going to be next?

[npfd801]

I still wonder how long Spartan can exist building emergency vehicles.  They've consistently lost money in that division, they bought Smeal simply because the amount owed for chassis payments from them was so great that 1.) They leveraged that amount against a buying price to help make the deal work and 2.) If they lost Smeal they wouldn't have a SINGLE larger builder putting a body on their chassis but themselves. I'll bet REV was chomping at the bit for that acquisition.

 

I'm not going to lie, we're in the process of getting another engine - and I really doubt that Spartan as we know it will exist over the life of another rig. Having their product under or totally that new rig makes me nervous. The 180 day program they were running (maybe still) is a huge tell to me that they're no where near capacity for production.  One big builder is quoting over a year, I know others were at 330 days.  

 

They claim that for the first time in six years they're profitable in that division, but I'd be curious how the accounting works once the dust settles from acquiring Smeal.  Spartan claims they have a 12% market share for pumpers, 25% for aerials, and 18% of chassis market share.  They also claim they're number three in the fire apparatus market for chassis and body builders.  You can find this here:  http://spartanmotors.gcs-web.com/static-...58abfa99e5

 

Sure wish HME could bring their chassis up to a standard that competes, as their stainless bodies are gorgeous. My money is either all of the dealers going to them are being promised something big, or there's just nothing left to sell.

[Reliance]

I see New England Fire & Emergency Equipment in New Haven, Connecticut is no longer with Rosenbauer for the New England area and just strictly Spartan/Smeal.

[drfeelgood]

The Red Storm/Red Sky dealership change doesn't have anything to do with Spartan's financial state. They haven't been a dealer for Spartan/Smeal/LT since July 2017.  

[TacSupport1]

I see New England Fire & Emergency Equipment in New Haven, Connecticut is no longer with Rosenbauer for the New England area and just strictly Spartan/Smeal.

They must have realized the amount of Smeals that NEFEA sells and a lot of client relationships and (Spartan ERV) changed their minds.

[npfd801]

Heard the same thing from two separate sources, wondering if anyone has heard...  Supposedly REV is in the process of purchasing Spartan and wishes to announce prior to/at FDIC.  I'm a little suspect of this, but heard it from two very different sides of the business.  Anyone else hearing this?

[chief60]

Its interesting if it happens. REV would have a very large group. I find it funny that even with all their purchasing and changing of dealers they still haven't gotten service fixed in some areas and still no sales people out pushing their products in new areas.

[alex3610]

Heard the same thing from two separate sources, wondering if anyone has heard...  Supposedly REV is in the process of purchasing Spartan and wishes to announce prior to/at FDIC.  I'm a little suspect of this, but heard it from two very different sides of the business.  Anyone else hearing this?

Lots of little birdies tweeting the same song.  One little birdie said that REV is more interested in Spartan's RV Chassis business than the fire apparatus stuff.  I guess we will find out soon enough if it's true or not.

[Reliance]

I see Danko has switched to HME Ahrens Fox for Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska & South Dakota from Smeal.
I do not know where Alexis fits in as they are the dealer now for HME in Iowa.