Traton executives hint at major International HD truck cab redesign

Traton Group executives have confirmed plans for a sweeping cab update for International Motors’ heavy-duty on-highway trucks, marking the second phase of a North American market share push following the rollout of the S13 powertrain. Speaking during Traton’s second-quarter 2026 earnings call on July 23, Chief Financial Officer Michael Jackstein described the move as a “cab update”—a significant refresh for a design he called “quite old,” despite prior aerodynamic improvements in August 2022. The LT Series and RH Series tractors, International’s core Class 8 offerings, currently feature the S13 engine and integrated powertrain, which includes a proprietary T14 automated transmission and dual-stage aftertreatment system. Serial production of the S13 powertrain began at the Huntsville, Ala., plant in October 2023, with the engine developed under Traton’s global Common Base Engine program and already in use by Scania (since 2022) and MAN (since 2024). International’s 2025 Class 8 sales totaled 22,898 units, a 13.8% decline year over year, representing an 11% market share. The company’s 2024 retail sales share stood at 11.1%, according to Omdia Automotive data. While no specific details about the cab redesign were disclosed, International officials emphasized that the update would align with recent engine changes and support future growth. A camouflaged prototype of the new cab may have been observed in testing earlier this year. The LT Series, introduced in September 2016 to replace the ProStar, has seen only aerodynamic and software updates since its debut, including revisions in October 2019 and August 2022. The RH Series, launched in April 2017, also received aero and software updates in October 2019. International’s Class 8 lineup also includes the HV Series and HX Series vocational trucks, with the HV Series undergoing a redesign in September 2024 and entering series production in 2025. The eRH Series battery-electric model, introduced in April 2025, was withdrawn within six months.