Storyteller Overland, a manufacturer in the Class B RV Adventure Van space, announced Wednesday that it acquired Global Expedition Vehicles, which Storyteller said is the world’s leading manufacturer of expedition vehicles and bespoke Adventure Trucks.
“We are confident that Storyteller Overland has the vision and expertise to build on the legacy of standard-setting, premium quality, boutique-style expedition vehicles that GXV has been synonymous with for 17 years,” said Rene’ Van Pelt, co-founder and owner of Global Expedition Vehicles along with her husband, Mike Van Pelt. “The rugged adventure trucks that we build are a natural progression, the next step up for Storyteller customers in the line of overlanding vehicles. This merger will allow both companies to grow and expand in a collaborative production of the Adventure Truck series together.”
Following the acquisition – which was officially announced today on site at the Florida RV SuperShow in Tampa, Fla. – Global Expedition Vehicles will continue to provide its lineup of custom expedition vehicles to its customers in North America and beyond. Merging with Storyteller Overland will create a rapid expansion of the market for the company’s e/**Adventure Truck series, which will ultimately be offered on both the Ford F550 and Ram 5500 chassis.
As with Storyteller’s line of Class B RV Adventure Vans, known as the “MODE4x4” range (including the Class, Stealth and Beast MODEs), the new Storyteller GXV line of Adventure Trucks will feature a focused floorplan and feature set that is RVIA-certified. The units will be available for purchase with the same type of “see-through,” no-haggle pricing via Storyteller Overland’s nationwide dealer network, the company said.
Global Expedition Vehicles will keep its company name and its brand intact. Mike and Rene’ Van Pelt will remain heavily involved in steering the destiny and future growth of the business as president and vice president of Global Expedition Vehicles.
“The heart of Global X will remain here in Springfield, with our world class crew of designers, artisans and technicians continuing to craft the world’s finest custom expedition rigs for clients right here at our shop. So, in that way nothing will change,” said Mike Van Pelt. “We are excited that GXV is growing and expanding with the Adventure Trucks collaboration with Storyteller, and we will remain just as passionately involved as we always have been. We also hope to be more involved in adventure travel with the current GXV and Storyteller owner community, mixing work with as much overland travel as possible.”
“This merger is an exciting moment for the entire overlanding community,” said Jeffrey Hunter, founder and CEO of Storyteller Overland. “We are grateful for our partnership with the Van Pelts and the stellar team they have built at GXV and want to be excellent stewards of their world renown brand. Obviously, we are huge fans of the products and reputation they have built, and we are energized by the thought of what we will build together moving forward. For us, this is simply the next step in keeping our promise to constantly inspire and equip our growing community of adventurer travelers all around the world with the proper gear, resources, and mindset to ‘Live Free, Explore Endlessly and Tell Better Stories.’”