International enters agreement to sell Springfield, Ohio facilities to defense manufacturer Roshel
Press Release + Noah Note
The Springfield facilities are to be sold to Roshel, a leading defense and commercial vehicle manufacturer
Roshel plans to use the Springfield facility to expand its vertically integrated production of commercial, special and armored vehicles
Roshel sees opportunity to restore the Springfield facilities to full capacity over time with the expansion of production with its major OEM partner
SPRINGFIELD, Ohio – International Motors LLC* (“International”) today announced the signing of an Asset Purchase Agreement under which Roshel, a leading defense and commercial vehicle manufacturer, will acquire operating assets of the International facilities located in Springfield, OH. Roshel plans to use the Springfield facility as the hub for U.S. based, vertically integrated production of commercial, special and armored vehicles with opportunities to expand production with other major commercial vehicle OEMs.
The Springfield facility has been the long-time home of International’s truck assembly plant. In recent years, the plant has been almost exclusively dedicated to contract manufacturing via an agreement with a major automotive company. The contract will expire on September 30, 2026.
“With the end of our contract manufacturing agreement, we have been working diligently to find a suitable path for the Springfield Assembly Plant,” said Samara Strycker, executive vice president and chief financial officer at International. “We have been focused on finding a buyer that values the capabilities of this historic facility and the community. We believe this path forward positions the plant for long-term success, while utilizing the manufacturing expertise developed in Springfield over many decades.”
The Springfield facility includes more than 2 million square feet of manufacturing space on 500 acres including a full assembly line and paint booth. It will allow Roshel to expand production of their commercial, special and armored vehicles, which are built on chassis from several major OEMs and customized to the needs of emergency response, defense and security operations.
“Adding this Springfield facility, with its rich history, to our U.S. footprint strengthens our ability to support U.S. defense and commercial automotive programs locally,” said Roman Shimonov, CEO of Roshel. "It will allow us, along with our partners, to combine the expertise of the Springfield workforce with our advanced manufacturing capabilities to address a broad range of evolving customer requirements.”
Closing of the agreement is subject to customary closing conditions.
ABOUT ROSHEL
Roshel is a leading North American manufacturer of advanced armored and secured transportation solutions for government, defense, and commercial customers. Headquartered in Brampton, Ontario, with manufacturing facilities in Canada and the United States, Roshel delivers technology-led security products and custom engineered armored vehicles designed to meet the evolving needs of modern security environments. With a commitment to quality, innovation, and operational excellence, Roshel provides clients with end-to-end manufacturing capabilities, including design, fabrication, assembly, and smart fleet integration. The company’s mission is to anticipate and exceed security challenges by delivering reliable, mission-ready solutions tailored to each unique requirement. For more information, visit www.roshel.com.
ABOUT INTERNATIONAL
Based in Lisle, Illinois, International Motors, LLC* creates solutions that deliver greater uptime and productivity to our customers throughout the full operation of our commercial vehicles. We build International® trucks and engines and IC Bus™ school and commercial buses that are as tough and as smart as the people who drive them. We also develop Fleetrite® aftermarket parts. In everything we do, our vision is to accelerate the impact of sustainable mobility to create the cleaner, safer world we all deserve. As of 2021, we joined Scania, MAN and Volkswagen Truck & Bus in TRATON GROUP, a global champion of the truck and transport services industry. To learn more, visit www.International.com.
Noah Note: Another feather in Roshels cap this week after their Algoma agreement. Roshel is finding significantly more business in the United States and in turn through the American government the last year. While a lot of focus has been on Border Patrol and ICE, it is unfsir to say it is the majority of their American business.
The Senator (and other assorted conversions) are slowly climbing the list of popularity among security firms, law enforcement, and other special agencies South of the Border. Of course Roshel doesn't announce sales really, which can make tracking a bit hard, however most of the companies business these days (not include Cash-In-Transit) is coming from down south.
Roshel already has the Michigan factory, however if I remember correctly the company has been looking to add another facility for a while. This particular factory was producing the CV series with GM, however with the Silverado Medium-Duty being sunset the factory has been left with little use.
I should also note that, while not confirmed officially, Mexican officials have reportedly selected the Senator as their future Light Armoured Vehicle of choice after a series of trials that also included a number of other platforms including the JLTV and KLTV. My bestie False at r/RoshelArmor, ever dedicated, has been following the saga so I don't fully have too lol. You should all give them love. They're great at what they do. Anything Roshel they keep track.
Of course it is yet to be seen what exactly Roshel does with this space. I imagine the company will give out more details as things are properly finalized and the official transfer takes place. Until then, congrats to Roshel on the continued expansion! I don't think it'll be the last we hear from them in the next few months. Wouldn't be shocked to see another CANSEC surprise either.
I hoped the Mexican exports were going to be built in Canada but with this purchase it seems like they are moving more production to the US, we shall see. Hopefully Canadian production is not just CAF orders and some leftovers.