International confirms low-cab-forward truck plans

Nov 12, 2003 12:00 PM

International Truck and Engine Corporation today confirmed plans to introduce a new family of Class 3-5 low-cab-forward commercial trucks, beginning with production of a Class 4-5 product in early 2005.

Plans for the introduction of the low-cab-forward vehicle, which the company will market as the International CF Series, were discussed with International dealers at the company’s annual dealer meetings on October 16 and 17 in Chicago, Ill.

The International CF Series will be sourced through the company’s Blue Diamond joint venture with Ford Motor Company. The low-cab-forward vehicle from International will be built with several shared components, including an International diesel engine and Ford automatic transmission. Blue Diamond will produce the CF Series at its state-of-the-art assembly plant in Escobedo, Mexico.

“Our planned entry to the Class 3-5 market provides the chance to expand our commercial vehicle offering to meet a wider range of customer needs,” said Mark Stasell, International’s vice president and general manager, Blue Diamond joint venture. “In the International CF Series, we’ve achieved a level of quality and performance that will offer better Class 3-5 product alternatives for our customers and dealers.”