The
company intends to lease a
manufacturing facility in
the community of Barton,
Ala., from The Retirement
Systems of Alabama. This
facility would become
Navistar’s third
manufacturing plant in the
state. The company opened an
engine plant in Huntsville
in 2002, and expanded with a
second engine plant there in
2008.
Navistar believes Alabama
has proven to be a great
place for the company to
grow its business and
intends to maximize the
facility’s under-utilized
fabrication equipment and
other assets to cost
effectively expand
manufacturing capabilities
and options in North
America. The company hopes
to capture synergies and
efficiencies given the close
proximity to Navistar’s two
engine plants in Huntsville.
Local
and state government
agencies and officials were
instrumental in making this
an attractive opportunity
for Navistar. The company,
which would take possession
of the facility on January
1, 2012, would retain the
existing workforce and
operations. Navistar intends
to finalize its initial
operating and product plans
for the facility in the
coming months, and expects
to disclose those details by
year end. The company would
be eligible to qualify for
certain state and local
incentives based on
achieving certain employment
levels and other
requirements.
