Kenworth Says Tech Advances Boost Market Share

By Jonathan S. Reiskin, Associate News Editor

This story appears in the Nov. 7 print edition of Transport Topics. Click here to subscribe today.

MOUNT VERNON, Wash. — Truck research conducted here has helped boost Kenworth Truck Co. sales by more than 90% this year, and ongoing demonstrations for fleets could maintain the trend into next year, the company’s general manager said of activities at the Paccar Technical Center.

Kenworth’s Gary Moore said product research done at the technical center two or more years ago contributed to the company gaining 2.8 points of market share in Class 8 U.S. retail sales for the first nine months of the year — to 13.1% from 10.3% during the same time in 2010. Kenworth’s U.S. volumes have grown more rapidly than the industry as a whole, which is up 50.5% for the first nine months.

“You have to approach it from a product standpoint in explaining our success. We’ve been developing new products since 2009, and now they’re available,” said Moore, who became general manager in early July.

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