Caterpillar to End Cat Truck Line

[DailyDiesel]

Caterpillar Inc. says it will discontinue production of its Cat Truck on-highway vocational trucks, blaming "the current business climate in the truck industry" for its withdrawal from the market.

“This is also in line with the company's ongoing restructuring to align its businesses with existing conditions,” the company said in a statement issued today. Those previously announced moves include personnel layoffs and cutbacks in production of its earth moving and material handling equipment.

“As a result of this action, the company will cease taking new orders for vocational trucks, although Caterpillar remains committed to existing truck customers and will support the existing trucks currently on the road,” the company said.

Caterpillar launched its first CT vocational truck in the North American market in 2011, working with Navistar on the product's design and build. It was based on the International PayStar and built under contract by Navistar, and now includes three variants.

Last year, Caterpillar announced its intention to begin independently designing and manufacturing its on-road vocational truck products at a plant in Victoria, Texas. That was to phase in this year.

Cat Trucks, designated CT, are premium products based on Navistar International's PayStar and use a Navistar-built 12.4-liter diesel. They are assembled at a Navistar plant in Saltillo, Mexico. CT sales volume remains low, annually totaling 1,100 to 1,200 units, a Navistar spokesman said last year.

Navistar meanwhile introduced an upscale version of its PayStar vocational truck, called HX, which resembles and would have competed with the Cat Truck series.

"Remaining a viable competitor in this market would require significant additional investment to develop and launch a complete portfolio of trucks, and upon an updated review, we determined there was not a sufficient market opportunity to justify the investment," said Ramin Younessi, vice president of Caterpillar's Industrial Power Systems Division.

"We have not yet started truck production in Victoria, and this decision allows us to exit this business before the transition occurs."

Canceling the CT program will impact approximately 70 positions, Cat said. The reductions will begin in March and will take place over a period of time.

Truckinginfo.com

You were pretty close on the wording Red Horse!

[BOB DINGSDALE]

WELL that didn't take long.

[Red Horse]

Boy, I really blew this- I said two years-plus they didn't even use the press release I made for them-oh well

Posted 19 February 2016 - 09:41 AM

POPULAR

Again-my very unsophisticated prediction-in about two years we will see a Cat press release that says....." in an effort to focus on its core business and maximize returns to shareholders, Caterpillar will no longer be producing Cat brand on highway vehicles so it can focus on the product lines that have made Caterpillar a leader throughtout the world as the premier builder of construction and mining equipment."

[Joe Ditchkus]

I think it was just last week someone made a post that said this almost to the word. They must have a crystal ball. There is a lot of competition out there. It is pretty hard to build a better mousetrap.

[superdog405]

Worked with a few of these trucks over the last few years, they where broke down almost as much as they worked. That's the real reason for poor sales, won't be missed by most !!

[Swishy]

Perfect opportunity for Cat to grab Mack out of Volvo greedy hands

LOL

Wot could B better ........ A gr8 motor by C@ ........n the best truck in the world by Mack

Wot Sez U ?

cya

§wishy

[DailyDiesel]

If anyone made money on this venture it was Navistar. They let cat pay for a redesign of the cab and all the tooling that goes along with it, training of workers, installation of equipment, etc, etc. Now they can cherry pick the best parts for their HX line of trucks. Based on past decisions by International management I don't think was intentional but some times you walk into a good situation ass first.

[HeavyGunner]

Wow! Last week they were full on production of the "new" vocational truck in that press release and this weeks press release they're done. I like swishy' idea if it would work.

[james j neiweem]

I am with you Swishy. Cat and Mack. Let Volvo ressurect White and Autocar conventional

[Timmyb]

So how many dollars did cat invest in their truck "making" business?

I think it would of been better to spend that money on making their engine comply with emissions.

Red horse, Sir you really hit the nail on head.

[Timmyb]

Let them always be remembered for making reasonable, ok, internationals.

[220cummins]

Aww shucks