\n July 27, 2026 2:04 PM, EDT<\/p>\n
A cab is assembled at International Motors’ facility in San Antonio. (International)<\/p>\n
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\nInternational is considering a second production shift at its San Antonio assembly plant as demand and product initiatives support potential expansion.International\u2019s truck orders rose 209% year over year in the second quarter to 22,924 vehicles.The company reported its first quarterly operating profit in a year, aided by tariff refunds and recoveries. <\/p>\n
International Motors is investigating establishing a second production shift at the truck maker\u2019s San Antonio assembly plant, a senior executive at parent company Traton Group said.<\/p>\n
Increasing the size of the workforce at Lisle, Ill.-based International\u2019s only assembly plant in the United States is a possibility due to a number of factors, Chief Financial Officer Michael Jackstein said during Traton\u2019s second-quarter 2026 earnings call July 23.\n \t \t\t<\/p>\n
International is planning an overhaul<\/a> of its on-highway truck portfolio\u2019s cabs, the truck maker is looking to increase its share of North American Class 8 truck sales and market demand is at the start of an upcycle, Jackstein and Traton CEO Christian Levin noted during the call.<\/p>\n In addition, International cut a second shift<\/a> at the company\u2019s largest assembly plant in North America \u2014 the Escobedo facility in Mexico \u2014 in April 2025; the Springfield, Ohio, assembly plant was sold<\/a> in April; and tariffs on imported components continue to be a volatile factor in earnings at the Traton division.\n \t\t<\/p>\n The San Antonio plant builds Classes 6-8 diesel and electric vehicles. A 900,000-square-foot facility that began operations in 2022, the site includes a general assembly line, body shop, paint shop and logistics center. There is also a center for onsite aftermarket modifications.<\/p>\n Escobedo produces subassemblies for International trucks alongside assembling a full range of the company\u2019s Class 8 vehicles. It is an internal supplier for the plant\u2019s own production lines and International and IC Bus manufacturing plants in the U.S.<\/p>\n A cab is welded at International Motors’ facility in Escobedo, Mexico. (International)<\/p>\n The Huntsville Powertrain Manufacturing Plant produces engines and transmissions, including the S13 powertrain that Jackstein told analysts provided optimism for the increase in market share alongside the upcoming cab overhaul.<\/p>\n International sold 22,898 Class 8 trucks in 2025, a 13.8% year-over-year decrease and equating to an 11% share of the market. In 2024, the company won an 11.1% share of Class 8 retail sales, according to Omdia Automotive data.<\/p>\n Overall, sales of trucks at International fell 10% year over year in the second quarter to 13,130 vehicles from 14,628 but rose 26% compared with 10,413 trucks in the first three months of 2026.<\/p>\n Truck orders surge in Q2<\/p>\n International\u2019s truck orders soared 209% in the most recent quarter to 22,924 from 7,416 and rose 22% compared with Q1\u2019s 18,859 vehicles.<\/p>\n And International posted its first quarterly profit in a year in the most recent three-month period, bringing home a $151.29 million operating profit in Q2, almost triple Q2 2025\u2019s $53.46 million operating profit. Traton reports earnings in euros, and all conversion rates were correct as of July 23.<\/p>\n The biggest factor in the return to the black was International\u2019s ability to book $136.5 million in Section 232 tariff refunds and recoveries for U.S. content under International Emergency Economic Powers Act tariffs, Traton said.<\/p>\n