GM to sell medium-duty truck unit to Navistar It's Official

[rlchv70]

Originally Posted by Shotgun

WTF???

Tags were screwed up. Fixed.

[Shotgun]

Originally Posted by rlchv70

Tags were screwed up. Fixed.

Got it! I see what happened now.

[sklunk]

Originally Posted by member12

What about those cab-over designs that Ford sells? It has a 4.5L powerstroke engine...no idea if it's made by Navistar or not.

I've seen them around before.

http://www.commtruck.ford.com/ctw/default.asp

Also, that 4.5L engine is supposed to be in the F150 next year. Just FYI. 200 HP @ 2700 rpm; 440 lb-ft Torque @ 1800 rpm

The Ford LCF is designed and built by Navistar, here is their version:
http://69.20.127.42/portal/site/ITru...002101010aRCRD
(go to "CityStar" under Medium Trucks)

And so is the 4.5L "PowerStroke" (I put it in quotes because it never became a PowerStroke -- it was cancelled by Ford but is still sold and used by International in their LCF trucks):
http://69.20.127.42/portal/site/ITru...extfmt=default

[Joe in T.O.]

Too bad they sold them. The GM 4500 and 5500 dwarf the Fords 450 and 550. I wonder if GM will bring out the pickup versions of the 4500 and 5500 now. Chrysler just recently released them. The Duramax diesel blows away the competition in strength, durability and economy.

[bigtime]

This idea that GM should focus on cars only- is stupid. Nobody is telling General Electric to focus on, errr, light bulbs, toasters, aircraft engines, locomotives, on and on and on - only. GM - General Motors - not "general automobiles only", should have kept all there brands/products. The more quality products with the GM logo on them the better. It works for lots of other companies, it could have worked for them too. With that said, I would have had someone else do the R&D, like international, long ago and slapped my name on it. : )

[C/K Man]

G.M.'s move makes sense. Going back 30 years, most every major car manufacturer had a commercial truck operation. Over the years, commercial truck production became more and more specialized, and was less and less profitable for car manufacturers. Chrysler gave up building heavy trucks in 1975, Ford in 1996, and GM gave up on heavy truck and bus in 1988. Even American Motors was building heavy trucks for the U.S. military and transit buses until 1979. In other countries, you had Mitsubishi, who sold their truck operation to Daimler a few years ago, Nissan sold theirs to Volvo, and Volvo actually sold their car operation to concentrate on heavy trucks. Volvo also bought Renault's heavy truck operation (which included Mack here in the U.S.). So, as of now, the only car company that still has a commercial truck operation is Daimler, who owns Mercedes Benz, Freightliner, Sterling and Western Star. Their truck operations are run as a separate business unit, and I wouldn't at all be surprised if one day they spun the truck side off.

[Robert Ryan]

the only car company that still has a commercial truck operation is Daimler, who owns Mercedes Benz, Freightliner, Sterling and Western Star. Their truck operations are run as a separate business unit, and I wouldn't at all be surprised if one day they spun the truck side

I would be, as unlike the US there is a lot more vertical integration than in the US. Volvo made the right choice to sell it's car business as it could not see it competing (rightly) with Mercedes, Audi and BMW. Volvo is also Volvo Marine; Volvo Agriculture and Construction equipment and Volvo Finance. Daimler AG is Cars: Trucks; Finance and Aerospace and still is looking for Truck acquistions ,Mitsubishi Fuso being the latest.

[rlchv70]

Originally Posted by Joe in T.O.

Too bad they sold them. The GM 4500 and 5500 dwarf the Fords 450 and 550. I wonder if GM will bring out the pickup versions of the 4500 and 5500 now. Chrysler just recently released them. The Duramax diesel blows away the competition in strength, durability and economy.

New GMT900? F450 Competitor?

[88Fiero]

I sell GMC Medium Duty Trucks. We have a better product, better engines etc. I hope we dont get stuck with a rebadged international. GMC/Chevy medium dutys are a far superior product than international. The Isuzu 7.8 that we have already meets 2010 emissions. I hope and pray we dont get stuck with international engines. The LCF is a joke! Their V6 is a throw away 200,000 mile engine! Not a true Medium Duty engine! I wished the buyout with Isuzu would have worked. Oh well another dumb move by GM. MD's were also profitable unlike some GM products.


Steve in Michigan

[88Fiero]

Originally Posted by bobojay

I'm concerned about the folks in Flint. What will they build now?

Half the plant builds MDs and the other builds Crew Cabs

[C/K Man]

Originally Posted by 88Fiero

I sell GMC Medium Duty Trucks. We have a better product, better engines etc. I hope we dont get stuck with a rebadged international. GMC/Chevy medium dutys are a far superior product than international. The Isuzu 7.8 that we have already meets 2010 emissions. I hope and pray we dont get stuck with international engines. The LCF is a joke! Their V6 is a throw away 200,000 mile engine! Not a true Medium Duty engine! I wished the buyout with Isuzu would have worked. Oh well another dumb move by GM. MD's were also profitable unlike some GM products.


Steve in Michigan

From what I understand, the trucks will not change, only the assembly plant. The W4 will also continue, but I have not heard anything about the larger T series. Isuzu is building their own plant in the U.S., so I think there is a chance the larger cabovers may go away. Of course, eventually the Topkick and Kodiak will probably share parts with International trucks. Have they told you guys anything official yet?

[rlchv70]

The GM products and the International products don't completely overlap. The GM products are on the slightly smaller/lighter side.

At first, they will probably just transfer production to a Navistar facility. As the products need redesign, they will start to share parts.

Also, I doubt the Isuzu products meet 2010 emissions.

Why do you say that the LCF is a joke? 200,000 miles isn't anything to sneeze at. It does the job that it was intended to do.

[rlchv70]

Originally Posted by 88Fiero

Half the plant builds MDs and the other builds Crew Cabs

I think it's more like 3/4s builds the GMT900s, 1/4 builds the MDs. Especially from a workforce point of view.

[88Fiero]

Originally Posted by rlchv70

The GM products and the International products don't completely overlap. The GM products are on the slightly smaller/lighter side.

At first, they will probably just transfer production to a Navistar facility. As the products need redesign, they will start to share parts.

Also, I doubt the Isuzu products meet 2010 emissions.

Why do you say that the LCF is a joke? 200,000 miles isn't anything to sneeze at. It does the job that it was intended to do.

Do you sell MD trucks? Do you sell GM products? I have sold GM MD for over 5 years and GM products for over 30 years. Our diesel engines are built for more longevity and they are rebuildable as all true MD diesels are. GM MD trucks are built heaver not lighter than international. Stop by and I'll show you our superior frame, cab, lighting etc. Good GMC Isuzu, Wyoming, MI The LCF, set in theirs then set in the GMC W4500!
Now can you see my concern?

Steve in Michigan

[smmcann]

88Fiero
I am the fleet manager for an EMS service, we recently bagan to switch our fleet from IH 4300 to GMC C4500's with the Duramax / Allison. Is there any chance the C4500's will be retained by GM dealers based on their decription as LD trucks ? Also, our local dealer stated the trucks will stay unchanged at least through 2010. Just when we though we could escape IH, you guys sell the line...