Navistar will assemble cutaway versions of General Motorsrsquo G vans which are commercial vehicles refitted for use as utility or service vehicles ambulance or rescue vehicles shuttle buses or school buses

The Economy

Navistar to Build Vans for GM Under Long-Term Contract

June 10, 2016

Navistar International Corporation reported some details of a new long-term contract with General Motors to assemble the cutaway model of GM's G Van at Navistar's Springfield, Ohio, plant, beginning early in 2017.

Robert Brooks

Navistar International Corporation (IW500/102) reported some details of a new agreement with General Motors (IW500/3) to manufacture the cutaway model of GM's G Van at Navistar's Springfield, Ohio, plant. Assembly will begin in the first half of 2017, it said, but the production volume and other details of the contract were not provided.

A GM executive, North American manufacturing and labor relations vice president Cathy Clegg, said the " partnership will provide our Wentzville, Mo., assembly plant more flexibility to keep up with continued demand for mid-size trucks and full size vans."

The multi-year contract will result in Navistar adding at least 300 jobs at the western Ohio operation, re-commissioning a second assembly line there, it said in its announcement.

Last September, GM and Navistar announced a long-term agreement to work together to develop and assemble medium-duty trucks. They said then their initiative would help “Navistar to strengthen its product lineup and GM to expand its Chevrolet commercial truck portfolio.”

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About the Author

Robert Brooks | Content Director

Robert Brooks has been a business-to-business reporter, writer, editor, and columnist for more than 20 years, specializing in the primary metal and basic manufacturing industries. His work has covered a wide range of topics, including process technology, resource development, material selection, product design, workforce development, and industrial market strategies, among others. Currently, he specializes in subjects related to metal component and product design, development, and manufacturing — including castings, forgings, machined parts, and fabrications.

Brooks is a graduate of Kenyon College (B.A. English, Political Science) and Emory University (M.A. English.)