Uncle Sam wants International

WARRENVILLE, Ill. (Oct. 7, 2003) — International Truck and Engine Corp., has announced the creation of a new business unit that will sell medium truck and parts platforms, as well as diesel engines, to the U.S. military.

Daniel C. Ustian, president of parent company Navistar, said the new unit will offer the products — particularly International’s new 4.5-litre V-6 diesel engine — as well as military options that include a comprehensive product offering including design, manufacturing, training, after-sale services and global distribution. “This is a natural area of growth for International. We already have all the platforms that the U.S. military and other NATO countries could leverage for products and services,” Ustian said in a press release.

International has a cooperative agreement with Vision Technologies Systems Inc., headquartered in Alexandria, Va., to jointly design and market a repowered solution for the high mobility multipurpose wheeled vehicle, (otherwise known as the HUMVEE) which includes an International 4.5-litre V-6 engine and a hybrid electric drive with plug-in power.

International will also offer the company’s Diamond Logic Telematic Solution, which includes communication devices that report conditions such as driver performance, vehicle tracking, prognostics (e.g. battery, brake, etc., conditions), security and equipment usage.

The military business effort will be led by vice-president Archie Massicotte, a 26-year veteran of International and most recently director of manufacturing for the company’s Blue Diamond Truck joint venture with Ford Motor Co.