International Eyes Second San Antonio Plant Shift

International Motors is considering a second production shift at its San Antonio assembly plant due to increasing demand and product initiatives. The company’s truck orders rose 209% year over year in the second quarter to 22,924 vehicles, and it reported its first quarterly operating profit in a year, aided by tariff refunds and recoveries. The San Antonio plant, which builds Classes 6-8 diesel and electric vehicles, may increase its workforce due to factors such as a planned overhaul of its on-highway truck portfolio’s cabs, a push to increase its share of North American Class 8 truck sales, and market demand at the start of an upcycle. The company’s Chief Financial Officer, Michael Jackstein, noted that the San Antonio plant is a possibility for expansion, and the company is looking to increase its market share alongside the upcoming cab overhaul. International sold 22,898 Class 8 trucks in 2025, a 13.8% year-over-year decrease, and the company is looking to improve its sales with the new production shift. The San Antonio plant is a 900,000-square-foot facility that began operations in 2022 and includes a general assembly line, body shop, paint shop, and logistics center. The company’s truck orders surged 209% in the most recent quarter, and it posted its first quarterly profit in a year, with an operating profit of $151.29 million in Q2. The biggest factor in the return to profit was International’s ability to book $136.5 million in Section 232 tariff refunds and recoveries for U.S. content under International Emergency Economic Powers Act tariffs.