Navistar International reported a $4 million loss on revenues of $1.7 billion for its second fiscal quarter ending April 30.

For the same period a year ago, earnings were $3 million on revenues of $1.8 billion.
For the first six months of its fiscal year, Navistar reported a loss of $60 million on revenues of $3.2 billion versus a $32 million loss on $3.3 billion a year ago.
John R. Horne, chairman and CEO, noted that a recent increase in industry orders for heavy trucks is being driven by increased confidence in the economy and pre-buying to beat new emissions rules that become effective in October. He also said that the company's return to profitability was hindered by continued weakness in demand for Class 6-7 medium trucks and school buses, which represent Navistar’s “more profitable” core businesses.
The company has lowered its forecast for medium trucks to 101,500, including 79,000 Class 6-7 trucks, down from a previous forecast of 112,500 units, including 87,500 Class 6-7 trucks. School bus demand, as a reflection of lower than anticipated tax receipts and government spending, has been lowered by 2,000 units to 26,000 units. The forecast for Class 8 heavy truck volume has been raised by 12,000 units to 156,000 units.
Horne emphasized that the company continues to manage through the current downturn by balancing truck production with industry demand and the need to replenish low dealer inventories. Effective June 3, output at the company's Springfield, Ohio, assembly plant will be increased to 193 units per day from the present 159 units per day.