International Motors, LLC (formerly Navistar International Corporation) 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 an independent subsidiary of holding company Traton.
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 (IH) 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 (Light Line) 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-” (for navigation) and “Star” (from multiple truck lines), 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 (to allow for a longer, sloped hood); the classic-style 9300 (the previous Transtar) 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 (AmTran).
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 (severe-service) and 2004 (cowled bus chassis). 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 (TDTC) 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 (SCR) 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 and 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 and 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.
In April 2025, citing tariffs and a freight recession, International cut 900 jobs from its Escobedo plant. A further 300 corporate employees were laid off in February 2026. On March 30th, 2026, the company announced the sale of its Springfield, Ohio facilities to Roshel, a defense manufacturer based in Canada. After the expiration of International's production contract with General Motors on September 30th, 2026, Roshel will take over the facility. Approximately 1,341 employees will be terminated, and production of the CV model (and the related Chevy Silverado 4500-6500 models) will cease.
Corporate operations
International Trucks (1986–present)
In 1986, after International Harvester transitioned to Navistar International, the Truck and Engine Division (essentially all that remained) continued the use of the International brand name. The third-largest Class 8 manufacturer (behind Freightliner and the combined brands of Paccar), 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 Vehicle nameProductionClassificationConfigurationNotesInternational CV2018–2026Class 4–5Light/Medium duty straight truckReplaced International TerraStar.Lightest-duty product line, produced by International alongside Chevrolet Silverado 4500-6500 HD.International MV2018–presentClass 6–7Medium duty straight truckReplaced International Durastar.Revision for 2022 production.International RH2017–presentClass 8Regional-haul semitractorReplaced International TranStar.Shares body with LT (without aerodynamic enhancements).International LT 2016–presentClass 8Over-the-road semitractorReplaced International ProStar.First International truck of two-letter nomenclature and second-generation NGV cab.International HV2018–presentClass 7–9Severe-service straight truckReplaced International WorkStar.International HX2016–presentClass 8–9Severe-service straight truck/semitractorReplaced International Paystar.Largest product line, produced as both straight truck and semitractor configurations.
Former products Vehicle nameProductionClassificationConfigurationNotesInternational LoneStar2008–2023Class 8Over-the-road semitractorReplaced International 9000i as flagship product line.Longest-hood semitractor, mating NGV cab with vintage-style hood design.2018 revision introduced modernized cab of LT.Discontinued in 2023.International Paystar1972–1986 International Harvester 1986–2016 International Trucks NavistarClass 8Severe-service straight truck/semitractorRedesigned into the International HX. Survived the corporate transition from International Harvester to Navistar and went on to be produced for 30 more years after the transition.
IC Bus (2002–present)