Blue Bird Corporation announced it is acquiring certain assets from Detroit Chassis LLC and entering into a Master Collaboration Agreement with Ford Motor Company. These agreements position Blue Bird to take over the design and manufacture of the next-generation F-53 and F-59 commercial stripped chassis, a market the company believes represents a significant long-term growth opportunity.
Key Details
- Asset Acquisition: Blue Bird will acquire certain manufacturing assets from Detroit Chassis LLC for a purchase price of $7 million. The closing is anticipated in the first calendar quarter of 2027.
- Ford Collaboration: The company entered a Master Collaboration Agreement with Ford, effective July 31, 2026, to assume responsibility for the F-53/F-59 chassis business. Ford will supply its proprietary powertrains and support the customer transition.
- Financial Outlook: Management believes this market opportunity has the potential to achieve annual volumes of approximately 10,000 units, generating potential annual revenue of $600 million or more.
- Production Timeline: New production of the next-generation chassis is anticipated to begin in the first half of calendar year 2028.