International S13 Powertrain Production Begins in Huntsville

October 26, 2023
1:53 pm

Serial production of the International S13 integrated powertrain began Oct. 18 at the Huntsville, Ala., production facility operated by parent company Navistar, the company announced.The powertrain — comprising the S13 engine, proprietary T14 automated transmission and a dual-stage aftertreatment system — is the final internal combustion engine platform Navistar plans to develop as its German parent company, Traton Group, gears up for a future where it will only produce zero-emission vehicles, it said.Navistar completed a 110,000-square-foot expansion of the Huntsville plant in early October to support production of the S13 powertrain components. Work began in February 2020.The expansion boosts the facility’s footprint to 410,000 square feet, and the factory now has two assembly lines rather than one. The T14 transmission and the S13 engine each have an assembly line. In addition, there are three machining lines.

The Huntsville facility has been in operation since 2008. “We’re thrilled to unveil the expansion of our Huntsville Powertrain Plant, symbolizing our commitment to innovation and excellence. Through collaborative efforts with the Traton Group, we are confident to set a new efficiency benchmark in sustainable transportation,” Huntsville Director of Operations Brandon Tucker said. Development of the S13 powertrain was unveiled in August 2022. The International S13 engine is part of a Traton-wide development program. Versions of the so-called Common Base Engine will be used across Traton global truck brands. The Scania brand began production of the engine in 2022, while MAN will follow in 2024, according to the company. The S13 engine is Navistar’s first with selective catalytic reduction technology as the primary emissions reduction technology. With no exhaust gas recirculation cooler, almost 100% of exhaust gas flows to a fixed geometry turbocharger, the company said. Navistar said this equated to more power and improved performance from the engine, which has up to 515 horsepower and 1,850 pound-feet of torque.