With the hype around CAT Trucks subsiding, the question now turns to sourcing engines for the vehicles
By Gary Worrall | November 26, 2010
With the initial hype of the global launch of CAT Trucks beginning to subside, the job now is for the company to settle into its rhythm as it seeks to establish a foothold in the Australian market.
While the CT-630 is likely to a larger customer base, thanks to the optional heavy duty suspension and 90-tonne GCM, it does create something of a dilemma for CAT Trucks executives if it becomes too popular.
Without doubt there are few more closely guarded secrets in Australia than the actual number of trucks that will be built before production must cease on December 31, due to the CAT engines not holding ADR 80/03 compliance. Regardless of the actual number, it will not be so high as to risk leaving unsold trucks into 2012.
The problem for CAT sales manager Jeff Tyzack is if customers buy up the entire 2010 production run before the end of 2011, then he will have to decide on whether to commission a second build run.
While this could be difficult in itself as the factory will be manned by a ‘skeleton crew’ until it is time to begin producing 2012 models, the bigger problem will be sourcing sufficient components, particularly engines.
With the CT-630 using the C15 Cat engine, the issue becomes one of what engines are available on the open market, with Detroit Diesel now restricted to Daimler Truck brands and Caterpillar no longer selling into the on-highway market.
This will leave CAT Trucks with virtually no choice but to offer the Cummins ISX as its only 15-litre engine option, until the long-awaited Maxforce engine is available in January 2012.
The vice president of product development at CAT parent company NC2, Tom Baughman, says there is an interim approval for the C15 Cat engine. However, this may still not be enough to help because the engine is in short supply.
When asked if CAT Trucks will use a Cummins engine as a stop-gap until the arrival of the Maxforce engine, Baughman says it is a factor in the company plans but nothing definite is in place.
See the December edition of ATN for more on the global launch of CAT Trucks.