Truck Parts and Service | Heavy Duty Trucking, Aftermarket, Service Info
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natural gas (CNG) powered medium- duty trucks (Models 337 and 348). Both equipped with Cummins Westport ISL-G engines, the tractors are EPA 2013 and CARB compliant and available today. Paccar's other new development was the introduction of Kenworth's new customized, premium ICON 900 tractor. Designed as a tribute to the company's long-standing W900L, the ICON 900 is available with a 72- or 86-in. sleeper, and up to a 600 horsepower engine. March also offered the trucking industry the fi rst glance at Freightliner's SuperTruck. May Last year also offered the fi rst glance at Freightliner's fully autonomous Inspiration. Showcased at an on-highway test drive in Nevada, Inspiration is the fi rst fully licensed and legal autonomous Class 8 tractor in North America. Powered by a 10.7-liter Detroit Diesel engine and a DT-12 automated manual transmission, Daimler Trucks North America (DTNA) said the Inspiration was designed to help "alleviate fatigue by al- lowing drivers to cede control of the truck to the truck for long periods of time." June The summer months were met with big partnership changes in the medium-duty market, including the reintroduction of one of North America's oldest vehicle brands. General Motors announced on June 15 that it would be partnering with Isuzu to introduce six low cab forward trucks for the 2016 model year. Based on Isuzu's N-Series, GM says the trucks will be available as gas or diesel-powered, depending on engine size, and will be compatible with refrigerated, box, stake/ fl atbed and service bodies. "GM will develop and manufacture the 6.0-liter gas engine, transmission and will provide technical support for this pow- ertrain. Isuzu is responsible for vehicle de- velopment and manufacturing, including diesel engines," said Paul Loewer, General Motors Fleet, Commercial product and sales support manager - Medium Duty. July July closed with a breakup, as Navistar and Caterpillar ended a production part- nership regarding CT Series vocational trucks. Set to offi cially conclude this year, both Navistar and Caterpillar "will have the opportunity to leverage certain joint intellectual property, collaborate with suppliers and utilize licensing agree- ments moving forward." Both companies followed the news by announcing they would begin production on independent vocational truck lines in 2016. "We plan to stay focused on the voca- tional truck industry moving forward," 19 Sales & Marketing W W W . T R U C K P A R T S A N D S E R V I C E . C O M J a n u a r y 2 0 1 6 | T R U C K P A R T S & S E R V I C E Freightliner's Inspiration The Caterpillar CT Series, previously produced with Navistar.