Oshkosh Defense to build Postal vehicles in South Carolina

[mahatmakanejeeves]

Source: Washington Post

Business

Oshkosh Defense to build Postal vehicles in South Carolina

By Associated Press
June 22, 2021 at 4:39 p.m. EDT

DETROIT -- Oshkosh Defense will make new delivery vehicles for the U.S. Postal Service in Spartanburg County, South Carolina, creating 1,000 new jobs. ... The Wisconsin company on Tuesday said that it will reconfigure a warehouse with features needed to do large-scale manufacturing. Parts supply companies are expected to create more jobs in the area. ... Gov. Henry McMaster said Oshkosh will invest $155 million in Spartanburg County.

In February, Oshkosh Defense won the multi-billion-dollar contract to build the Postal Service's next generation delivery vehicle. The company will build 50,000 to 165,000 van-like vehicles during the next 10 years, replacing a fleet that is up to three-decades old.

Some of the vehicles will be powered by batteries, while others will have internal combustion engines. The exact mix has not been decided yet.

Also Tuesday, Ford Motor Co. said its component sales subsidiary would make parts for the Postal Service vehicles, both electric and gasoline-powered. The automaker said the engines and transmissions would be made in Michigan, plus suspensions and other components.

Oshkosh said production in South Carolina is expected to begin in the summer of 2023, the company said Tuesday. ... Oshkosh Defense, which mainly builds military vehicles, is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Oshkosh Corp.

Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/oshkosh-defense-to-build-postal-vehicles-in-south-carolina/2021/06/22/ff1ae7f4-d361-11eb-b39f-05a2d776b1f4_story.html

[quaint]

1. U.S. lawmakers urge USPS board to halt delivery vehicle contract

https://democraticunderground.com/10142720316

[Blue Owl]

2. The USPS is goin' on a DeJoyride!

[bucolic_frolic]

3. Call me very suspicious and doubtful

Rushing to solidify the DeJoy era's executive decisions. Military contractor? What do they know about high mileage vehicle longevity that conventional automakers don't? Answer, I suspect - nothing. Will these new vehicles be around in 30 years? Who will maintain them? Inside job to pad profits forever. Your local auto dealer probably won't get the business.

No wonder USPS rates are rising far above inflation again this year, as for the last 10 years.

[Mopar151]

6. Oshkosh builds a LOT of high mileage, long service life vehicles.

Cement mixers, garbage trucks, snowplows, Pierce fire trucks - https://www.oshkoshcorp.com/ Driveline stuff will be Ford, per the OP, likely from their highly regarded light truck line. The Post Office has a vigorous Preventative Maintenance program, in-house.

[bucolic_frolic]

8. Thanks, news to me.

[moriah]

9. Yeah, I couldn't help think of kids overalls myself.

I learned something new too here today. And I haven't even had coffee yet!

[Mr.Bill]

4. Will these be built

with non-union labor?

[dingosatemyusername]

7. that's the whole point of building them in SC, a "right to work" state

[OldBaldy1701E]

10. BINGO! (n/t)

[Mr.Bill]

11. That's what I figured. n/t

[jmowreader]

12. I was thinking there was another point

Oshkosh needs access to a supply of workers who already know how to build cars. BMW’s SUV plant is in Spartanburg County.

[flying rabbit]

5. They did build the HEMTT

Which was a pretty decent tactical truck.