American LaFrance will continue manufacturing Condor cabs, chassis

American LaFrance will continue manufacturing its Condor cabs and chassis at its Ladson facility and expand its dealer network, the company announced at the World of Concrete 2006 conference in Las Vegas.

The Condor vehicle line was part of Freightliner’s recent sale of American LaFrance to Patriarch Partners, an investment firm that specializes in buying and strengthening businesses. Condor cabs and chassis are currently used in waste handling, concrete pump and other municipal vehicle applications.

As part of the acquisition, American LaFrance has dedicated additional resources to Condor vehicles, with plans to expand the Condor dealer network and to further establish its distribution, service and parts network. Future plans also include expansion into new markets.

“We plan to make Condor the premiere low cab product in the market,” said Mark Faro, Condor product manager with American LaFrance. “We also have aggressive plans to enhance the Condor cab and build a stronger chassis product platform in conjunction with 2007-2010 EPA emission requirements.”

The Condor line was developed by American LaFrance in 1999. Condor cabs and chassis will continue to be manufactured at the Ladson facility through 2007, at which time the company plans to relocate manufacturing to a new location in the Charleston area.

In addition, American LaFrance will retain key members of the Condor management team, including many members of the design-engineering group that originally developed the product.