Autocar Returning to Class 8 Market

Grand Vehicle Works Holdings LLC, is reactivating a 102-year-old truck nameplate which has been dormant for some time – and has hired a veteran manufacturing executive to run the new company.

The company with the century-old name is Autocar LLC and the executive is Bob Enright, former president of Western Star Inc., a Canadian truck manufacturer.

GVW also owns Workhorse Custom Chassis, formerly the P-Chassis manufacturing operation of General Motors Corp.

Although the name is old, Autocar will be the newest entry in the Class 8 low-cab-over-engine truck market and will be owner of the Xpeditor line, acquired in July from Volvo Trucks North America Inc. Xpeditor trucks primarily serve the refuse collection industry.

Low-cab-over-engines are made with the cab either over or in front of the engine. In the class 8 category, they are seen most often on vocational trucks -- like refuse haulers -- in the United States.

Enright was president of Western Star Inc. for four years, but left after it was purchased by Freightliner last year.

The Autocar name has been in existence since 1899, when the Pittsburgh Motor Car Co. moved to Ardmore, Pa., and renamed itself Autocar. The company introduced its first commercial vehicle in 1908.

It was purchased by White Motor Co. in 1953, and then White was purchased by Volvo in 1981.

Autocar LLC was formed in late July when GVW purchased the Xpeditor truck line and the rights to the Autocar name from Volvo Trucks. The nameplates of the trucks will remain Xpeditor WX and Xpeditor WXLL.

Also involved in the transaction were model-specific designs, tooling and other assets, as well as the rights to procure and provide aftermarket parts that are unique to LCOEs. Neither the Volvo trademark nor any assembly facilities were included in the transaction.

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