Kenworth Motors

Founded in Seattle in 1923, Kenworth is a manufacturer of medium-duty trucks in the United States. The company is a division of Paccar, a multinational technology company based in Bellevue, WA. In 2006, Paccar had an annual revenue of US$16.5 billion, making it the seventh largest motor vehicle manufacturer in the world. In addition to the company's commercial vehicles, Kenworth is also a leading producer of Class 8 semi trucks.

In the early years, bus production was the company's primary business. After the war, bus production was discontinued. In 1945, Pacific Car and Foundry bought Kenworth. At that time, the company hired former military truck and aircraft workers to build a new product line. They believed that buses would play an important role in the postwar economy. They relaunched four primary models in 1946. In 1972, the company added two new product lines. These were the K-series cabovers and the T-series bonneted conventionals.

In the late 1930s, the company expanded into bus production. It also made heavy-duty wreckers for the army. The company built a small fleet of model E buses. Later, it also produced Highway Post Office coaches. It was one of the first truck makers to produce a cab-over-engine model in 1957.

After the Second World War, Kenworth made a number of models for the United States Army. It was one of the first manufacturers in the country to offer a diesel engine as original equipment. This was a key element in the company's success during the war. In 1947, Kenworth became a subsidiary of Paccar. The company was originally located on Fairview Avenue at Valley Street, but moved to Mercer Street in the mid-1970s. In 1974, the company opened a facility in Chillicothe, Ohio.

In the early 2000s, Kenworth began exporting its models to Mexico. They also introduced a new model in Australia, the K200 cabover. This model represents a dramatic redesign of the cabover platform in 40 years. The model is a result of the company's focus on developing high-quality, durable products for the country's public transportation system.

In 2007, the company was ranked 141 in the Fortune 500 list. The company is a publicly traded corporation that manufactures commercial vehicles around the world. The head offices are in Bellevue, WA. Besides the Kenworth line, the company also builds Peterbilt and DAF brands. In 2015, the ICON900 limited-edition premium version was introduced.

In the last decade, Kenworth has made a major overhaul of its model line. It introduced a new front bumper and an all-new steering wheel on the T680 Next-Gen. It also updated styling on the T600 and T660. In addition, it introduced the W990. This wide-body cab is shared with the T680 and T880. It is available in a short hood or a high hood.

In 2016, 60% of the company's new sales came from Kenworth models. In addition to the W900, there are the T800, T800B, and T800W. There are also a number of other versions, including the T800H and T800SH.