The first-ever Cat on-road trucks will be launched in October by NC2 Global LLC, the global joint venture between Caterpillar and Navistar, in Australia.


The new trucks - the Cat CT 610 and CT 630 - are designed specifically for the Australian market and are being assembled at NC2's manufacturing facility in Tullamarine, Victoria.

In a multi-million-dollar conversion overseen by Ted Pulver, NC2 manufacturing operations manager in Australia, the assembly facility, which was formerly used for production of Cat earth-moving equipment, has rapidly changed over to production of the first-ever Cat on-road vehicles.

The NC2 team has also moved quickly to prepare a network of Cat dealers who will sell and service the vehicles. The Cat dealers, operating initially in 54 locations, were selected based on market coverage, service orientation, experience with servicing Cat engines, and commitment to the on-highway truck market.

Tyzack provided an update on the Cat CT 610 and CT 630. Both vehicles are conventional tractors -- prime movers, in Australian lingo -- and will be available in day-cab and extended-cab options.

NC2 Global also has launched operations in South Africa, where it will market a full line of commercial trucks under both the International and Cat brands. Recently introduced in South Africa is the International® WorkStar conventional truck, which replaces the International 7600.

The company, which will be doing business locally as NC2 Trucks Southern Africa, succeeds the previous entity, Navistar International Trucks Southern Africa, and has acquired all its assets. Existing International truck dealers and staff will continue to serve customers as part of an expanding network of 17 dealers.