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Production Begins At Navistar’s New Class 8 Diesel Engine Plant
HUNTSVILLE, Alabama, USA (September 23, 2008) — Navistar® Engine Group today officially marked the start-up of production of its new “big bore” heavy diesel engines at a plant dedication here. The event — held on the anniversary of Navistar’s 75th year in the diesel engine business — showcased the company’s new MaxxForceTM 11 and MaxxForceTM 13 diesels for the North American Class 8 commercial truck market.
“Since we announced our plans in 2005, these new engines have commanded the attention of the heavy truck industry,” Navistar Engine Group President Jack Allen told a gathering of nearly 600 Navistar customers, global automotive and equipment OEMs, plant employees and press representatives. “Now, these advanced products, the culmination of our 75 years of diesel leadership, will command the respect of heavy truck owners and drivers as they deliver on their promise.”
The MaxxForce 11 and MaxxForce 13 engines, featuring some of the world’s most advanced diesel technologies, offer heavy commercial truck buyers a fuel-efficient, powerful, durable and startlingly quiet powerplant. Six MaxxForce big bore models offer ratings in the ranges of 330 to 475 horsepower (246 to 354 kW) and 1,250 to 1,700 lb.-ft. torque (1,695 to 2,305 Nm).
The 300,000-square-foot (27,870 m2) Huntsville plant is the newest in Navistar’s roster of first-class global diesel engine facilities. Huntsville is also home to an existing Navistar plant, which since 2001 has produced V6 and V8 diesels for consumer pickups and vans, commercial trucks, school buses, and recreational vehicles.
“Huntsville was selected to produce these new big bore diesel engines because of the talented and dedicated workforce here and its clear track record of building high-quality engines at a competitive cost,” Allen said.
The company’s five other engine-manufacturing and technical centers around the world include Melrose Park, Illinois (USA); Indianapolis, Indiana (USA); Santo Amaro, Sao Paulo (Brazil); Jesus Maria, Cordoba (Argentina); and Canoas, Rio Grande do Sol (Brazil). The South American facilities operate as MWM International Industria de Motores da America do Sul Ltda., a wholly owned subsidiary of Navistar.
The MaxxForce 11 and MaxxForce 13 engines are offered exclusively in International® ProStar® line-haul tractors, International TranStar® regional-haul tractors and International WorkStar® severe service vehicles.
Built on a compacted graphite iron block — the first for the North American Class 8 market — the new engines feature fuel system electronics, air-management system, EGR, and aftertreatment technologies developed by Navistar specifically for high performance at low emissions levels. These advanced features yield four primary benefits for International vehicle owners: Outstanding fuel economy, excellent power and torque, quiet operation with low noise, vibration and harshness, and high strength without added weight.
Navistar is the world's premier diesel-engine maker across the 160 to 350 horsepower range. In North America, Navistar has nearly a 50 percent share of the diesel pickup engine market and 40 percent of the market for medium-duty commercial trucks and buses. In South America, Navistar has more than a 50 percent market share in the mid-sized pickup/SUV segment and accounts for nearly 40 percent of all diesel engines produced.
Navistar International Corporation (NYSE: NAV) is the parent company of International Truck and Engine Corporation. The company produces International® brand commercial trucks, mid-range diesel engines and IC brand school buses, Workhorse brand chassis for motor homes and step vans, and is a private label designer and manufacturer of diesel engines for the pickup truck, van and SUV markets. The company is also a provider of truck and diesel engine parts and service. A wholly owned subsidiary offers financing services. Additional information is available at www.maxxforce.com and www.navistarengines.com.
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