Work Truck Logo
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

Ford Ends Blue Diamond Venture With Navistar

Ford Motor Company is ending a joint venture with Navistar early next year to produce an in-house version of its F-650 and F-750 medium-duty trucks for the 2016 model year.

June 10, 2014
Ford Ends Blue Diamond Venture With Navistar

The current generation of F-650 and F-750 trucks has been produced since 2004 by Blue Diamond Truck Co., which operates in the Navistar plant in General Escobedo, Mexico. 

Photo: Ford

2 min to read


Ford Motor Company is ending a joint venture with Navistar early next year to produce an in-house version of its F-650 and F-750 medium-duty trucks for the 2016 model year.

Ad Loading...

Ford plans to end the venture in early 2015 and move production of the trucks to Ohio.

Ad Loading...

"We expect to be able to better meet customer needs by designing and manufacturing the all-new F-650/F-750 in-house, in addition to using Ford designed and built engines and transmissions," said Michael Levine, a Ford spokesman.

The current generation of F-650 and F-750 trucks has been produced since 2004 by Blue Diamond Truck Co., which operates in the Navistar plant in General Escobedo, Mexico.

Navistar and Ford formed the venture in 2001. In December of 2011, Ford notified Navistar it would end of the partnership. The decision came as part of Ford's deal with the United Auto Workers to move production from Mexico to the U.S.

The 2016-MY trucks will be built in Avon Lake, Ohio, starting in mid-2015. Ford has also elected to end its partnership with Cummins and Allison Transmission by equipping the trucks with a pair of Ford-built engines and a Ford transmission. The trucks will be available with a gasoline V-10 or diesel-powered V-8.

Navistar has been well informed about Ford's decision to end Blue Diamond, the company's president and chief executive told investors during a conference call last week.

Ad Loading...

"That line in Mexico builds not only medium-duty trucks for Ford, but also builds medium-duty trucks for Navistar," Troy Clarke said on the call. "And so, we do have plans for how to use those assets going forward, and quite frankly it provides additional production capacity for us going forward as well. [It] gives us the opportunity to rationalize where we build certain products to reduce our logistics costs, as we — and so, we can ship from different — basically from different sites."

To beef up its own medium-duty offerings, Navistar will offer more engine and transmission options to customers of its International trucks. Navistar has reportedly struck a deal with Cummins to add a diesel engine option, reports the Wall Street Journal.

Originally posted on Automotive Fleet

More Operations

Business professional seated at a conference table in front of a WEX-branded backdrop, wearing a suit jacket and lapel microphone, during an interview or executive discussion about fleet payment and fuel management solutions.
Operationsby Wayne ParhamAugust 3, 2026

WEX Launches Secure Fuel AI-Powered Fuel Fraud & Theft Protection Tool

WEX launched SecureFuel, a fraud-detection tool that uses AI-powered models to analyze fleet card transaction data and compare it with vehicle telematics data to prevent misuse or fraudulent purchases. In an exclusive interview, Work Truck learned more.

Read More →
YouTube thumbnail featuring Lauren Fletcher beside a moving truck graphic with bold text reading “Truck Chat Weekly Cheat Sheet” and “Leadership, Mixed Fleets & DOT Rules.”
Operationsby Lauren FletcherAugust 3, 2026

Fleet Leadership, Mixed-Energy Strategy, and DOT Marijuana Rules Lead the News

From hard-earned leadership lessons to fuel strategy, fleet technology, and compliance, this week’s Truck Chat Cheat Sheet covers the stories fleet professionals are reading most.

Read More →
Work Truck Trucks, Tips & Tours YouTube thumbnail promoting Motive Atlas as an AI assistant for drivers, featuring a smiling truck driver wearing a headset in the cab with the headline, “AI Assistant for Drivers,” and a Truck Chat “Watch Now” button.
Operationsby Wayne ParhamAugust 3, 2026

How Atlas Helps Drivers Without Distractions

Motive Atlas brings AI directly into the cab, helping drivers log in with their voice, get route and weather information, locate fuel stops, and instantly capture important road events, all while keeping their hands on the wheel. This video provides all the details.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
A shot of a Volvo electric vehicle with a man charging it in front of a residence.
SponsoredAugust 1, 2026

Top 50 Executive Fleets

It is that time of year again! Time for the 2026 list of the Top 50 Executive Fleets, presented by Automotive Fleet and Volvo as part of its annual Fleet 500. Download now to see this year's list of companies!

Read More →
Lauren Fletcher points toward the red-and-white Ringmaster of the Road soap box derby car. Bold text reads “Race Ready,” “Ringmaster of the Road,” and “Akron Bound.”
Operationsby Lauren FletcherJuly 31, 2026

Behind the Scenes: Building the Ringmaster of the Road from Body to Paint Part 2

The body is built, the paint is on, and Team Fletcher’s Soap Box Derby car is nearly ready for testing ahead of race day in Akron.

Read More →
Chris Brown of Automotive Fleet and Lauren Fletcher of Work Truck pose beside a Soap Box Derby car in a Team Brown vs. Team Fletcher race graphic benefiting The Hourglass Foundation.
Operationsby News/Media ReleaseJuly 30, 2026

It's All Downhill from Here! Fleet Industry Raises $22,000 for Skilled Trades Scholarships

Work Truck’s Lauren Fletcher and Automotive Fleet’s Chris Brown turned a friendly racing rivalry into $22,000 for automotive technology and skilled trades scholarships.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Lauren Fletcher stands against a dark blue background beside the headline “Fleets Run on Confidence.” Additional text reads “July 2026” and “Safety, Technicians, Leadership, Mixed Energy.”
Sponsoredby Lauren FletcherJuly 30, 2026

Fleet Confidence, Safety, and Smarter Risk Management Lead This Month

This month’s TruckChat: Top Monthly News Recap explores what it takes to build confidence across a fleet, from stronger leadership and technician support to better safety preparation, smarter use of telematics, and clearer plans for when something goes wrong.

Read More →
Tina Kourakos smiles beside bold black-and-yellow Fleet Legends graphics promoting her spotlight interview on decades of fleet leadership.
Sponsoredby Lauren FletcherJuly 29, 2026

From Fleet Operator to OEM Leader: Tina Kourakos’ Career Lessons

Tina Kourakos shares the lessons, relationships, and career pivots that shaped more than 30 years in fleet, plus the advice every new fleet manager should hear.

Read More →
Six WEX and Standard Fleet team members pose together in front of a WEX-branded backdrop, commemorating a business partnership or collaboration between the two companies.
Operationsby News/Media ReleaseJuly 29, 2026

WEX Brings Standard Fleet's Connected Vehicle Platform to Fleet Customers

This week’s product launch with Standard Fleet’s connected vehicle platform reflects WEX Venture Capital's strategy of turning startup innovation into customer solutions. Standard Fleet is now available to WEX fleet customers.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Work Truck Trucks, Tips & Tours YouTube thumbnail promoting Motive Atlas AI, featuring a rugged tablet displaying the Atlas interface with the headline, “Save Time with AI,” and a Truck Chat “Watch Now” button.
Operationsby Wayne ParhamJuly 27, 2026

Meet Atlas: Motive's AI Assistant for Fleets

Artificial intelligence is becoming a practical tool for fleet operations. In this video, Emily Parsons introduces Atlas, Motive's AI-powered assistant that combines conversational search with the ability to perform actions across the Motive platform.

Read More →