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Peterbilt plants in full production with 2008 models

Peterbilt Motors Company said today that both Peterbilt heavy-duty truck manufacturing facilities and the PACCAR facility that assembles Peterbilt’s medium duty vehicles are in full production with the company’s new product lineup of 2008 models.The announcement came at a news conference at the Mid-America Trucking Show here.

Peterbilt introduced its new product lineup at the 2006 show and units were in limited production during the second half of the year.

The new lineup represents the largest product development investment in the nearly 70-year history of the company and features vehicles specifically designed for the aerodynamic, traditional, vocational and medium-duty markets, Peterbilt officials said.

“Peterbilt has successfully transitioned to manufacturing the new models equipped with emissions-compliant technologies,“ Peterbilt general manager Bill Jackson said. “Throughout our operations, meticulous steps were taken to ensure our products are of high quality and are crafted to exacting requirements. As a result, Peterbilt is poised to meet the full breadth of market needs with premium products that set new standards for quality, innovation, technology, versatility and styling.”

According to Scott Pearson, Peterbilt Assistant General Manager of Sales and Marketing, feedback has been very positive with customers citing the new models’ capability to operate with greater levels of productivity, efficiency and cost effectiveness.

“New models have been in operation throughout North America in a wide variety of applications and environments for months, and customer acceptance is very high,” Pearson said.  “In development of the new products, we were able to mitigate the impact of the new engines and after-treatment devices used to meet the new 2007 emissions regulations.  We were able to introduce new vehicles that provide customers with competitive advantages through more fuel-efficient aerodynamic designs, reduced chassis weight, improved serviceability and reliability, and greater overall performance.”

The new Class 8 trucks introduced by Peterbilt and now in full production include the traditionally styled Model 389 and 388.

The aerodynamically styled Model 384 and Model 387 day cab, which join the Model 387 and Model 386 to complete the company’s aero truck lineup, will be manufactured beginning in the second quarter.