Way back in the ancient history of 2008 Caterpillar and Navistar joined forces to create a new truck manufacturing company called NC(2) Globall, LLC. The goal of this company was to create trucks for various markets around the world. The early fruits of this endeavor was the CT610 and CT630, basically the TranStar and the ProStar with a new grill wearing the cat logo.
Staying true to the global market plan you will not find these trucks within the borders of North America. To the best of my knowledge they are manufactured exclusively for the Australian market. Three years later the Cat/Navistar partnership would produce the first truck for the North American Market, the CT660. This truck is aimed at the heavy duty/vocational Class 8 market. It is produced by Navistar in their Garland, Texas plant which also manufactures the International PayStar, hence the reason the two trucks seem so similar behind the hood. This past Thursday it was announced that NC(2) Global, LLC was to become a wholly owned subsidiary of Navistar. With this sale comes licensing rights for International and Cat trucks to be sold at both International and Cat dealers. It was also announced that the two companies would begin work on a new Cabover truck for global market which I guess could mean the U.S. but I wouldn’t hold my breath.
It seems the relationship between Caterpillar and Navistar grows closer each day. As one of the remaining solely U.S. owned truck builders Navistar has long been rumored a potential takeover target but the likes of European truck manufacturers, most recently VW. Navistar presents the perfect opportunity for any company looking for a foothold in the North American truck market. But with the budding relationship between these two iconic and historic American companies any potential foreign suitor better move fast as a deal could already be in the works. Remember, you heard it at Daily Diesel Dose first!
Source: BuisnessWeek Images: Caterpillar