International Motors

International Motors, LLC is an American manufacturer of commercial vehicles and engines, established in 1986 as a successor to the International Harvester company. International Motors produces trucks under its own brand and buses under the IC Bus name. Since July 2021, the company has been a subsidiary of Traton, the heavy-vehicle division of the Volkswagen Group.
Headquartered in Lisle, Illinois, International Motors employs approximately 14,500 people worldwide as of 2024. The company maintains an extensive distribution network, with nearly 1,000 dealer outlets across the United States, Canada, Brazil, and Mexico, and over 60 dealers in 90 other countries. International Motors' product line includes a range of commercial trucks, from medium-duty Class 4 to heavy-duty Class 8 vehicles.

History

1902–1985: International Harvester

International Harvester was created in 1902 by the merger of McCormick Harvesting Machine Company, and Deering Harvester Company. In 1908, IH introduced the Auto Wagon, an early precursor to the pickup truck. Over the decades, IH became a diversified manufacturer, producing a wide range of vehicles from agricultural machinery to consumer-grade trucks and heavy-duty commercial vehicles. Notable products included the Farmall tractor, Cub Cadet lawn and garden equipment, and vehicles like the International Scout and International Travelall SUV. The company’s truck lineup ranged from light-duty vehicles to heavy-duty trucks. IH became a leading name in both agriculture and construction, further expanding with the development of the first sport-utility vehicles.

1986: Rebranding to Navistar

In the early to mid-1980s, IH faced financial struggles due to the poor agricultural economy and the lingering effects of the 1979–1980 strike. New chairman and CEO Louis W. Menk brought in a new management team, including president Donald Lennox, to oversee a restructuring process. As part of this reorganization, the company sold many of its divisions, including the Construction Equipment Division to Dresser Industries, the Solar gas turbine division to Caterpillar, and Cub Cadet lawn equipment to MTD Products. The company also entered into a 1983 supply agreement with Ford Motor Company, providing the 6.9L IDI diesel V8 for Ford's full-size trucks and vans, a move that continued until 2010.
In 1985, IH sold its Agricultural Division to Tenneco, the parent company of rival Case Corporation. The IHC name and logo became part of the sale, with Tenneco creating the Case IH brand. The remaining portions of the company, including the International Truck and Engine Divisions, rebranded as Navistar International Corporation on February 20, 1986. This new identity combined “Navi-” and “Star”, and introduced an orange-red diamond logo. Navistar focused on trucks and engines, marking the beginning of a new era for the company.
In 1987, Navistar introduced the 8300, a second generation of the International S series, which was part of the “Thousand Series” trucks. These vehicles included Class 7/8 tractors and medium-duty 4000-series trucks, introduced in 1989. The Thousand-Series trucks featured improvements for better fuel economy, including aerodynamic hoods with faired-in headlamps, turn signals, and body-color grilles. After 1986, Navistar shifted to exclusively producing diesel-powered vehicles.

1990s

In 1990, International introduced the 9400, an aerodynamic Class 8 truck derived from the Transtar/Paystar cab, using a set-back front axle ; the classic-style 9300 continued. In 1991, the final remnant of International in the automotive segment was sold off, as the Scout and Light Truck parts business was sold to Scout/Light Line Distributors, Inc. The same year, Navistar became the parent company of a school bus manufacturer as it purchased one-third of American Transportation Corporation.
Serving as a chassis supplier since the 1920s, Navistar gained significant market share in school bus production, acquiring AmTran entirely in April 1995. In 1994, the IDI diesel was replaced by the all-new T444E diesel V8. Sharing only displacement with its predecessor, the T444E introduced direct injection and standard turbocharging; the engine marked the introduction of the PowerStroke diesel branding for Ford vehicles. In 1998, following a decline in demand for COE trucks in North America, the 9800 was discontinued and production moved to Brazil.

2000s

In 2000, Navistar announced plans to move its headquarters from Chicago to Warrenville, Illinois.
The 5000/9000-series trucks were redesigned in 2000, becoming the 5000i/9000i, and the "NGV" trucks were introduced in 2001 as the successor to the Thousand-Series. The S-Series continued through 2003 and 2004. In 2002, AmTran was rebranded as IC Bus. In 2004, Navistar reentered the consumer market with the International XT pickup trucks, including the CXT 4x4, RXT 4x2, and MXT 4x4. These models were the largest ever sold for consumer use, with the CXT being the tallest and the RXT the longest mass-produced pickup trucks.
In 2006, Navistar introduced the International ProStar long-haul tractor, replacing the 9400i, and began phasing out the "Thousand-Series" nomenclature. In 2008, the DuraStar replaced the 4000 series, and the WorkStar replaced the 7000 series, while the TranStar name was revived for regional-haul tractors. Sales of all three XT models ceased after 2008.
In 2005, Navistar purchased Workhorse Custom Chassis, LLC, a manufacturer of step-van and motor home chassis, to re-enter the delivery van market. Workhorse briefly offered the MetroStar chassis-body product. In 2012, Navistar shut down Workhorse to cut costs. AMP Electric Vehicles acquired Workhorse's assets in 2013, later rebranding as Workhorse Group Inc. in 2015.

2010s

In 2010, Navistar revived plans to move its headquarters from Warrenville, IL, to Lisle, Illinois, creating 3,000 permanent jobs and 400 construction jobs. The company invested $110 million in the new campus, with $65 million in state incentives. In 2011, Navistar phased out its Truck Development and Technology Center in Fort Wayne, Indiana, laying off 130 employees. By 2015, the TDTC was closed with 300 employees relocating to Illinois, while others retired or found new work.
In June 2012, hedge fund MHR Fund Management LLC took a 13.6% stake in Navistar, triggering a poison pill defense. In August 2012, Navistar adopted Cummins engines and Selective Catalytic Reduction technology. President Dan Ustian retired, and in September 2012, activist investor Carl Icahn criticized the company for mismanagement. Several executives left the company between 2012-2013, including Ustian and other key leaders.
Navistar faced layoffs and plant closures, including 500 jobs in August 2012 and 200 more in September 2012. The Garland, Texas plant closed in 2013, costing 900 jobs. Additional job cuts occurred between 2013-2014 as part of a broader cost-cutting plan.
Navistar cut SG&A costs by 16% in 2013 and product development spending by 24%. The company sold off non-core businesses, including its RV and Workhorse Chassis units. In 2014, Navistar moved engine production from Huntsville, Alabama to Melrose Park, Illinois, eliminating 280 jobs.
In 2014, General Motors and Navistar announced a partnership to develop medium-duty trucks, leveraging both companies' expertise. Production began in 2018 at Navistar’s Springfield, Ohio facility.
In 2016, Navistar entered a strategic alliance with Volkswagen Group's truck division, Traton SE, which purchased a 16.6% stake in Navistar for $256 million. This partnership aimed at improving Navistar’s technology and procurement capabilities.

2020s

On January 30, 2020, Traton announced a proposal to acquire all outstanding shares of Navistar. In April 2021, the Brazilian competition regulator CADE initiated a review of the pending merger, distributing market surveys to 35 companies. The acquisition was completed on July 1, 2021, making Navistar a subsidiary of the Traton Group. As part of the merger, Navistar International Corporation was renamed Navistar, Inc.
On July 15, 2020, Navistar entered into a partnership with TuSimple, a company specializing in autonomous trucking technology, to develop Level-4 autonomous semi-trucks. Production was scheduled to begin in 2024. While the total investment remained undisclosed, Navistar acquired a minority stake in TuSimple as part of the agreement.
On September 25, 2024, Navistar announced its rebranding to International Motors, LLC, effective October 1, 2024. The company also introduced a new logo and corporate identity as part of the transition.

Corporate operations

International Trucks (1986–present)

In 1986, after International Harvester transitioned to Navistar International, the Truck and Engine Division continued the use of the International brand name. The third-largest Class 8 manufacturer, International held a 12.6% market share for 2022.
The current International Truck product range ranges from medium-duty Class 4 to heavy-duty Class 8 payload ranges across a wide variety of applications.

Current products

Former products

IC Bus (2002–present)

International has a long history in the school bus industry as a chassis provider, dating to when school buses first became motorized. In 1991, parent company Navistar expanded its presence in the segment as it acquired a stake in school bus body manufacturer AmTran, completing its purchase in 1995. Since 2002, IC Bus operates as the bus-manufacturing subsidiary of Navistar; though specializing in yellow school buses, the company also produces vehicles for commercial use.
The IC Bus name stands for Integrated Coach, denoting how vehicles are designed and assembled nearly completely under a single corporate structure. The entire IC product line is derived from medium-duty International vehicles, using a body design designed within the company.

Vehicle name	Production	Applications	Notes
IC CE-Series	2000–present	School bus Commercial-use bus	Uses International MV chassis
IC RE-Series	1995–2023	School bus Commercial-use bus	Uses rear-engine International 3000 chassis
IC TC-Series	2018–present	Commercial-use bus	International 3300 chassis produced in a cutaway-cab configuration Produced by IC Bus for bodywork by second-party manufacturers