Where are International Trucks Built in the US
Sep 27th 2023
Where Are International Trucks Made?
The Navistar International Corporation has been one of the most prominent automobile manufacturers in the United States for decades now. Since it was first established in 1902, the company has evolved to specialize in the production of heavy-duty trucks, diesel engines, buses, and more.
Although it is best known as the company behind International Trucks, which is its flagship brand, many people wonder where their manufacturing base is located. In this post, we'll take a closer look at where Navistar's manufacturing facilities are located as we seek to identify where International Trucks are made.
Let's jump right in.
Navistar Corporate Facilities
The Navistar conglomerate has made great efforts to maintain its roots and core operations in the United States, even when many other industry players shifted their businesses overseas. It established its corporate world headquarters in Lisle, Illinois, back in 2011 while maintaining the Navistar Proving Grounds in New Carlisle, Indiana, and the Navistar Advanced Technology Center in San Antonio, Texas.
Navistar Manufacturing Facilities
There are various facilities spread out across the United States and beyond where Navistar works to manufacture and assemble its various brands, including International Trucks. These were established at different points in the company's growth throughout the past century and include:
1941: The Tulsa Bus Plant in Tulsa, Oklahoma
1953: The MWM Manufacturing Plant, Sao Paulo, Brazil
1961: The Springfield Assembly Plant in Springfield, Ohio
1998: The Escobedo Assembly Plant in Escobedo Nuevo Leon, Mexico
2008: The Huntsville Powertrain Manufacturing Plant in Huntsville, Alabama
2022: The San Antonio Manufacturing Plant, San Antonio, Texas
While the company has had a number of now-decommissioned plants and facilities in various other locations over the years, these are the prominent locations still in official operation. Their latest and most impressive plant, where most people will associate the International Trucks brand, is the San Antonio Manufacturing Plant.
The Navistar San Antonio Plant
When Navistar officially opened up the doors of its San Antonio Plant on March 25, 2022, it marked the first time a manufacturing plant was opened within United States borders in nearly 30 years. At a cost of $250 million, the plant, located in San Antonio's South Side, represents a significant investment in the future of the state's and the country's manufacturing future.
Navistar hopes that this new factory will achieve its objectives of becoming one of the country's most efficient, cost-effective, and smart factories. The company hopes to harness the potential of cutting-edge technology and combine it with the industry experience it has accumulated over the years.
The plant offers 1 million square feet of manufacturing space and is designed to manufacture electric and conventional trucks. It occupies 460 acres, with nearly half of it left unused in anticipation of future plant expansion projects.
According to the company's executive vice president of manufacturing, Mark Hernandez, the plant is intended to serve as a "foundation for the Navistar manufacturing organization for many coming years."
By all indications, the plant signals Navistar's confidence in the future of trucking in the United States and the country's ability to compete in the global marketplace. Among the most impressive creations to come out of this new facility is the s13 Integrated Powertrain.
The International S13 Integrated Powertrain
International Trucks has cultivated a reputation as one of the country's most respected truck drivetrain manufacturers, and the International s13 Integrated Powertrain is set to become its newest and most accomplished production.
It is produced in the company's San Antonio plant and is designed to be a combined strength of the HX series of engines and the operating economy, serviceability, and performance of the stellar s13 Integrated Drivetrain. The company hopes to redefine what it means to be a severe service truck in today's challenging landscape.
Final Thoughts
International Trucks has a long and rich history of operation, which is why it is such a respected and recognized brand in the automotive industry. While the company has grown its customer base to include markets beyond North America, such as South America, the Middle East, South Africa, Eastern Europe, Oceania, and beyond, its heart remains in the United States.
After the opening of the company's San Antonio Manufacturing plant, we can expect to see more innovation from the company as it continues to represent International Trucks on the global stage.
Sources
www.internationaltrucks.com/engines/s13integrated
www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Navistar
www.carolinainternational.com/blog/history-of-international-trucks-spans-more-than-a-century
www.motorcities.org/story-of-the-week/2020/a-look-back-at-international-trucks-1929-57