Navistar celebrates 75 years with new plant opening

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. — Navistar Engine Group celebrated the 75th anniversary of its first production diesel engine, the D-40, with the dedication of the facility that will build its newest diesel engine family, MaxxForce Big Bore.

The event in Huntsville, Ala. also highlighted the company’s engine offerings, ranging from 50 to 475 horsepower for use in on- and off-highway, agricultural, industrial, defense and stationary power applications, as well as plans for global expansion.

Navistar Chairman, President and CEO, Dan Ustian, and Engine Group President, Jack Allen, spoke to a crowd of global OEM customers and prospects, local dignitaries, Navistar employees and local and trade press, delivering a retrospective look at the company’s 75 years of diesel engine production.

"This milestone is about much more than an anniversary," said Ustian. "This is about our scientists, designers, engineers and manufacturing personnel around the world, who for decades have been responsible for the performance and quality that made reaching this point possible."

In 1933 Navistar, then International Harvester, launched its first production diesel, a 50-horsepower four-cylinder engine for stationary and agricultural applications. For the next 75 years the company has produced engines for agricultural, construction, military and on-highway applications.

The MaxxForce Big Bore Assembly facility is the newest addition to Navistar’s global engine facilities. With operations now under way, the 300,000-square-foot plant produces the new MaxxForce 11 and MaxxForce 13.