Navistar and Caterpillar each announced Tuesday (July 28), they’re ending their partnership, an arrangement under which Navistar produced and engineered Cat-branded CT-series trucks since 2011.
Navistar also announced it will launch a new line of premium PayStar vocational trucks beginning in early-2016, using some of the shared technologies and intellectual property from its venture with Caterpillar.
“Navistar and Caterpillar have had a strong, collaborative working relationship through a number of projects and partnerships for many, many years,” says Bill Kozek, president, Navistar Truck and Parts. “This next phase provides Navistar with an exciting opportunity to introduce new technologies and product features into our new line of premium vocational trucks that we’ll launch in 2016.”
Navistar will continue to manufacture trucks for Caterpillar through 2016 and both companies will have the opportunity to leverage certain joint intellectual property, collaborate with suppliers and utilize licensing agreements moving forward.
“We appreciate the collaboration we have had with Navistar,” says Chris Chadwick, Caterpillar’s director of the Global On-Highway Truck Group. “As we look to future launches of new truck models, this updated strategy will better position us to help provide our customers with the best products and services for this market.”
Caterpillar says the transition process will begin immediately, with production expected to begin at the company’s Victoria, Texas plant in the first half of next year.
Caterpillar dealers will continue to sell and support Cat vocational trucks.