Andrew Taitz

Andrew Taitz is the chairman of Grand Vehicle Works Holdings (GVWH), which currently consists of the following operating companies: Aculocity, Autocar and TES [cite web|url=http://www.gvwgroup.com/Operating_Companies.html|title=GVW Holdings|accessdate=November 13|accessyear=2000] . Taitz was born in South Africa and later raised in Israel. Following a career in the Israeli military and the frozen foods industry in Johannesburg, South Africa Taitz (39) decided to emigrate to the United States of America in 1990 pursuing new business ventures. [cite web|url=http://www.andrewtaitz.biz|title=Andrew Taitz|accessdate=November 13|accessyear=2000] Taitz decided to settle in Chicago and started scouting for manufacturing firms that was least affected during the recession of the late 1980's and 1990 [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Late_1980s_recession]

Companies

Aculocity

In 2005 Taitz founded Aculocity. The company consists of a team of IT professionals focused on providing customized transactional and analytical warranty solutions. Their portfolio includes web development, IT infrastructure design and support, business process re-engineering, statistical and mathematical consultation. [cite web|url=http://www.aboutus.org/aculocity.com|title=About Aculocity|work=About Us] Aculocity supports the IT operations of Autocar Company and companied outside Grand Vehicle Works Holdings. Taitz is the chairman of Aculocity. [cite web|url=http://www.aculocity.com/news.aspx|title=Aculocity|work=Andrew Taitz - Aculocity chairman]

Autocar Company

In 2001 Taitz acquired Autocar Company [cite web|url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autocar_Company#Products|title=Wikipedia|work=Autocar Company] making it a subsidiary of GVWH. Taitz and GVWH acquired select vehicle designs and intellectual properties from Volvo Truck North America. Headquartered in Hagerstown, Indiana is a engineering, marketing, and assembler of Class 8 severe service trucks for niche markets. [cite web|url=http://www.autocartruck.com/AutocarHistory.aspx|title=Autocar Company|work=Company History] Autocar is an innovator in trucks designed specifically for the refuse service industry. The company’s Xpeditor product line offers features ranging from improved ergonomic cabs, integrated controls, and unsurpassed body-chassis interface to a new hybrid drive refuse truck. [cite web|url=http://www.autocartruck.com/ProductsIndex.aspx|title=Autocar Company|work=Autocar Products]

Union City Body Company

In 1993 Taitz made his initial acquisition, Union City Body Company (UCBC) located in Union City, Indiana, manufacturing bodies for delivery trucks. [cite web|url=http://www.coachbuilt.com/bui/u/union_city/union_city.htm |title=Union City Body Co. - 1898-present - Union City, Indiana] Taitz realized that it was inefficient to have a single company make a truck body and another manufacture the chassis which had been the industry standard. Taitz decided to merge the two and as a result caught the remainder of the market unaware.

Workhorse Custom Chassis

In 1998, Taitz purchased the specialized chassis P-Chassis division from GM and which time Taitz decided to move operations from Detroit to Union City, Indiana and Taitz renamed the business to Workhorse Custom Chassis. Taitz structured Workhorse Custom Chassis under Grand Vehicle Works Holdings (GVWH) based in Highland Park - Chicago. [cite web|url=http://www.gvwholdings.com/|title=GVW Holdings|work=GVW Group]

Note: Andrew Taitz does not work for Workhorse Custom Chassis anymore as of August 28, 2008.

References

See also

* Late 1980s recession

External links

* [http://www.aculocity.com Andrew Taitz, Aculocity chairman]
* [http://www.gvwholdings.com/AboutUs.html Andrew Taitz - Grand Vehicle Works Holdings]
* [http://www.autocartruck.com/CompanyBackground.aspx Andrew Taitz - Chairman AutocarTruck Company]
* [http://www.workhorse.com/Default.aspx?tabid=150 Workhorse Custom Chassis]
* [http://www.taitz.com General information on Andrew Taitz]