Cat, Navistar adjust NC2 global alliance, plan new truck

The global truck alliance between Caterpillar and Navistar is being adjusted to streamline the organization, Navistar said in a release.

NC2 Global, the 50/50 joint venture first formed in 2008, will become a wholly-owned subsidiary of Navistar. Caterpillar and International branded trucks will continue to be distributed outside the U.S. through dealers under the revised partnership.

“This next phase will move the relationship to a structure and business model that will be similar to the business relationship we have with Navistar for our North American vocational trucks,” said George Taylor, director of Caterpillar’s Global On-Highway Truck Group. “As we have looked at the success of the Cat vocational truck launch in North America, we believe that a similar business model for commercial trucks for the rest of the world makes the most sense for our customers.”

The two companies also signed a non-binding memorandum of understanding to develop a cab-over-engine Cat vocational truck to be sold globally.

“This new relationship streamlines the organization and will help us move faster and more efficiently,” said Phil Christman, president of NC2. “Customers and dealers in the global markets where NC2 has established distribution will build on their early successes with no interruption and with the added benefit of getting products sooner.”