METRO Magazine Logo
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

REV Group acquires Midwest Automotive Designs

The acquisition enhances REV’s product offerings in the commercial segment of its bus division, by adding multiple products for the luxury limousine, charter and tour bus markets.

April 14, 2017
REV Group acquires Midwest Automotive Designs

 

3 min to read


REV Group announced the acquisition of Midwest Automotive Designs (Midwest), a custom van “upfitter” that develops and manufactures luxury vehicles for end segments, including motorhomes, shuttle vans, limousines, and customized executive transportation vehicles.

The acquisition enhances REV’s product offerings in both its Recreation and Commercial segments through the RV and bus divisions, by adding a selection of Class B RVs and multiple products for the luxury limousine, charter and tour (LCT) bus markets, respectively.

Ad Loading...

Headquartered in Elkhart, Ind., Midwest Automotive Designs custom-builds RV’s and LCT vans on the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter chassis and the newly introduced Dodge ProMaster chassis. Since its inception in 2003, the company has grown to over 130 employees with combined manufacturing and office space of over 100,000 square feet and annual revenue of approximately $45 million.

“One of our key strengths is our ability to rapidly design, engineer, and commercialize new products,” stated Tim Gray, president of Midwest Automotive Designs. “Our combination with REV makes all of the sense in the world. We are excited to tap into REV’s technical resources and nationwide dealership footprint.”

“Product quality and craftsmanship are words consistently applied to describe the Midwest product, and integrity is a word used to describe the team Tim Gray has built over the past 14 years,” said Jim Jacobs, president of REV Recreation Group. “The attention-to-detail in the production of their vehicles is second to none. I truly believe that with REV, Midwest Automotive Designs now has all of the resources and backing in place to become a leading brand in our RV segment.”

“The addition of top quality custom shuttle buses, limousines, and executive transportation vehicles is complementary to our existing commercial vehicle line of products,” added John Walsh, president of REV’s bus division. “All of these products add to an already solid line of luxury vehicles under our Krystal and Federal brands. Our luxury transportation dealers will be very excited about these additions to our luxury product line.”

Midwest’s manufacturing operations will remain in Elkhart, and the company’s 130 employees will continue to be an integral part of the day-to-day operations and its future growth plans. Midwest has built a strong independent dealer network that will continue to promote and sell the Midwest products nationwide and now be further complemented by REV’s network.

Ad Loading...

“We are extremely pleased to have Midwest Automotive Designs join our team at REV and I personally look forward to welcoming their talented group of employees,” stated Tim Sullivan, CEO, REV Group Inc. “Midwest brings a strong quality-focused reputation and a diverse product portfolio that is entirely complementary to our line of great American-made specialty vehicles. Furthermore, Midwest is a strong cultural fit within REV Group and we will be able to quickly assimilate them into our company. They will immediately contribute strategic value in alignment with REV’s mission of delivering high quality specialty vehicles and support services to various end markets while also driving shareholder value creation through growth.”

More Bus

Railby StaffFebruary 2, 2026

Chicago Region Transit Ridership Grows in 2025

The region’s fixed-route system finished out the year with a total of 373.5 million rides. Adding 12.3 million rides over 2024 represents an increase that is equal to the annual transit ridership of Kansas City.

Read More →
King County Metro electric buses made by GILLIG.
Busby StaffJanuary 30, 2026

Seattle's King County Metro Introduces New Battery-Electric Buses

Rolling out in electric yellow and seafoam blue, the first battery-electric buses purchased from GILLIG will begin serving riders in south King County on February 2.

Read More →
Managementby StaffJanuary 29, 2026

Valley Metro Sees Strong Ridership Growth in 2025

The agency ranked top five among mid-sized U.S. transit systems, defined as agencies with 15 million to 50 million annual trips.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Busby StaffJanuary 29, 2026

Subway Customer Satisfaction Reaches Record High, New York MTA Says

The subway system saw increases across all key metrics, with 62% of subway riders reporting they feel satisfied with the system overall.

Read More →
Busby StaffJanuary 28, 2026

New Orleans RTA Reaches Agreement with ATU

The agreement provides competitive wages and reflects strong labor-management collaboration, positive working relationships, and a shared commitment to building a world-class transit system for the community, said RTA CEO Lona Edwards Hankins.

Read More →
Two ABQ RIDE busses at an intersection by Gold street in front of a parking structure.
Busby StaffJanuary 27, 2026

ABQ RIDE Launches Campaign to Bring Riders Back to the Bus

A new citywide campaign highlights free fares, improved service, and major upgrades to Albuquerque’s bus system.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Busby StaffJanuary 27, 2026

California's OCTA Advances 2026 Initiatives Centered on Balance and Sustainability

The priorities are outlined in the 2026 Board and CEO Initiatives and Action Plan, which serves as a roadmap to guide the agency’s work throughout the year and ensure continued progress and accountability on voter-approved transportation investments and essential mobility services.

Read More →
Railby Staff and News ReportsJanuary 26, 2026

People Movement: Virginia's DRPT Names New Director and More

In this edition, we cover recent appointments and announcements at HDR, MCTS, and more, showcasing the individuals helping to shape the future of transportation.

Read More →
Security and SafetyJanuary 22, 2026

Researchers Identify Top Risk Factors for Pedestrian-vehicle Crashes at Massachusetts Bus Stops

While their comprehensive analysis of bus stops focused on Massachusetts, the researchers are excited about the generalizability of the findings and application to other locations.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
ManagementJanuary 22, 2026

Florida's JTA Unveils Mobility Visioning Plan 2050 at State of the Authority Event

CEO Nat Ford’s address offered a look at highlights from 2025, with a focus on the future and the innovative ways the JTA is shaping mobility in Northeast Florida.

Read More →