Caterpillar announced it is discontinuing production of its on-highway vocational trucks.
The company says it will no longer take orders for vocational trucks, but says it will continue to support existing customers and vehicles currently in operation.
Cat said the “current business climate in the truck industry” was the main reason behind the decision.
“Remaining a viable competitor in this market would require significant additional investment to develop and launch a complete portfolio of trucks, and upon an updated review, we determined there was not a sufficient market opportunity to justify the investment,” said Ramin Younessi, vice president with responsibility for Caterpillar’s Industrial Power Systems Division. “We have not yet started truck production in Victoria, and this decision allows us to exit this business before the transition occurs.”
Caterpillar launched its first vocational truck in the North American market in 2011, working with Navistar on the products’ design and build. That partnership came to an end last year.