Dee Kapur, International Truck and Engine Corp.’s new truck group president, says he’s still learning the ropes, but hasn’t seen anything that would prevent International from "reestablishing ourselves as the leading Class 8 manufacturer in North America."

At a recent trade media teleconference, company officials offered a broad view of their Class 8 strategy, which covers facilities, products, services and supplier partnerships.
Keeping the Chatham, Ontario, heavy truck plant open is a key factor in International’s Class 8 plans, said Jordan Feiger, vice president and general manager, Heavy Vehicle Center.
The company had announced it would close that facility this summer and move production of its heavy duty sleeper tractors to Mexico, but government assistance and union concessions recently prompted International to instead launch a $189-million, 10-year modernization project for Chatham.
Feiger said the Mexican plant would have worked fine but would have required some "pretty substantial" investments to add the capacity needed to get International through the next business up-cycle and enable it to grow Class 8 market share. Chatham, he added, not only has the capacity but has "great management and an experienced workforce."
With some 1,000 locations, International boasts the largest dealer network in North America. Feiger said they’d like to add even more locations and expand existing dealerships. At the same time, they’ll continue to add services such as a pre-owned truck certification program due to be unveiled soon.
On the product side, Feiger said International has had more new offerings in the last 18 months than any other manufacturer, and considers itself to be a leader in Class 8 aerodynamics and fuel economy. While the company seems satisfied with two engine suppliers, it is leaning to Class 8 integration with more long-term partnerships with drivetrain suppliers. That’s critical if International is going to provide the kind of performance and efficiency customers expect, he said.