Western Star Trucks

This article is about a vehicle manufacturing company. For other uses, see Western Star.
Western Star Trucks Sales, Inc.
Subsidiary
Industry Automotive
Founded Cleveland, Ohio, United States (1967)
Headquarters Portland, Oregon, United States
Key people
Martin Daum, President, CEO
Jürgen Kritschgau, CFO, Finance and Control
Roger M. Nielsen, COO
Kelley Platt, General Manager/President
Products Trucks
Owner Daimler Trucks North America
Website westernstarstrucks.com

Western Star Trucks Sales, Inc., commonly designated Western Star, is an American truck manufacturer headquartered in Portland, Oregon, United States and a subsidiary of Daimler Trucks North America, in turn a wholly owned subsidiary of the German Daimler AG.

History

In 1967 White Motor Company started the Western Star division as White Western Star with a new plant at Kelowna, British Columbia, sharing headquarters with White in Cleveland, Ohio. By 1980, White was insolvent, despite importing Semon E. "Bunkie" Knudsen, son of General Motors legend Semon Knudsen, and President of Ford Motor Company in 1969–70. Volvo AB acquired the U.S. assets of the company. Bow Valley Resource Services and Nova, two energy-related companies based in Calgary, Alberta, purchased the Canadian assets, including the Kelowna plant, and the WesternStar nameplate and product range.

A 1997 "heritage"-style Western Star

In 1990, Western Star Trucks was purchased by Australian businessman Terrence 'Terry' Peabody, who turned around the company's fortunes over the next 10 years, and in 2000 sold it to DaimlerChrysler where it became part of the Freightliner Trucks division.

In 2002, Western Star production was moved to a plant in Portland, Oregon. 4700, 4800, 4900 and 6900 model trucks are still manufactured in the Portland Truck Plant. In May 2015, the Daimler Trucks North America plant in Cleveland, North Carolina began to build 4700 and 4900 models, as well as assemble all new semi tractor 5700XE models.[1]

Models

Western Star produces a range of Class 8 commercial vehicles for both highway and off-road use. Western Star specializes in trucks tailored to customer specifications. Every Western Star is built with the same heavy duty all-steel cab and offers several sleeper box sizes, with chassis lengths of up to 486 inches depending on model. Five interior packages are available and sleepers can be trimmed to specifications. Engines, transmissions, axles, suspensions and brakes are available in a number of configurations. Engines used include Caterpillar, Cummins, and Detroit Diesel. Western Star also produces right-hand drive trucks for the Australian, New Zealand and South African markets.

Western Star 4700SB (set-back axle)

Though styled in a conventional fashion and often used in off-road applications, Western Star trucks are also available with anti-lock brakes, traction and stability control, and other modern safety features in order to remain competitive and meet DOT regulations.

Model Information

2012 Western Star 6900 XD

Western Star currently has five model families:

Canadian Forces LSVW light truck

Western Star sold a lightly altered version of the White High Cabover as the Western Star Cabover in the 1980s and early 1990s. They also produced a licensed version of the Iveco VM 90 for the Canadian Forces during the 1990s, called the LSVW.

Western Star produces trucks for the United States Military, although they are rebadged as Freightliners.

Western Star 5700 Phantom Custom as Optimus Prime

A Western Star 5700 Phantom Custom is used as the new disguise for Optimus Prime in Age of Extinction

A Western Star 4800 is used as the Green Goblin Truck in Maximum Overdrive

A Western Star 4900SF tow truck is used as the Decepticon Onslaught in The Last Knight

See also

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Western Star vehicles.
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