From the merger of two key medium-duty battery-electric truck companies to truckmakers incorporating new, more efficient gas and diesel engines, 2025 was a busy year for medium-duty news stories. While you may have seen many of these stories and possibly missed others, here is a recap of the top 10 medium-duty news stories that appeared on Work Truck.

Some of this collection comes from a review of web analytics, while others come from the editorial staff’s industry and medium-duty truck knowledge of key announcements.

Top 10 Medium-Duty News of 2025

Here are the top 10 medium-duty news stories in 2025:

Isuzu Wins 2025 Medium-Duty Truck of the Year Award — Isuzu Commercial Truck of America took top honors as Medium-Duty Truck of the Year in 2025. Work Truck readers recognized the Isuzu NRR Diesel as a standout, placing it ahead of 11 other strong contenders. This marked the fifth time in the 17-year history of the awards that an Isuzu truck captured the top spot.

Cummins Unveils B7.2 Diesel Engine for Medium-Duty Applications — Cummins updated its B-Series engine platform with the addition of the Cummins B7.2 diesel engine, which increases displacement to 7.2L. Cummins said the higher displacement also enables a wider torque range, providing flexibility for different applications and duty cycles. The B7.2 improves unrestricted top-end performance ratings, providing 240 to 340 horsepower and 650 to 1,000 lb.-ft of torque.

Workhorse Group and Motiv Electric Trucks Complete Merger — Battery-electric medium-duty truck manufacturers Workhorse Group and Motiv Electric Trucks merged, and moving forward, the new combined company is known as Workhorse. Motiv’s legacy controlling investor has provided Workhorse with up to $50 million in new debt financing capacity, of which approximately $10 million is available in a revolving credit facility and up to an additional $40 million is available to fund supply-chain related costs associated with new purchase orders. Former Motiv CO Scott Griffith is the new Workhorse CEO.

Paccar TX-12 Pro Automated Transmission Now Available in Kenworth Medium-Duty Trucks — Kenworth expanded the availability of the Paccar TX-12 Pro automated transmission to several models in its medium-duty line. Ranging from Class 7 to light Class 8, the vocational transmission is now available on the Kenworth T380 and T480 when matched with the Paccar PX-9 engine.

Harbinger Unveils Medium-Duty Series Hybrid with Extended Range — Harbinger launched a new hybrid vehicle aimed at medium-duty truck fleet applications. The electric vehicle includes a gas-powered range extender that charges the battery, offering an estimated 500-mile range between charges. The plug-in hybrid system is powered by a 1.4L inline four-cylinder gasoline engine paired with an 800V generator and a 50-gallon fuel tank. It can be equipped with either a 140-kWh or a 175-kWh battery system. Harbinger’s powertrain produces up to 1,140 lb.-ft. of torque and 440 horsepower.

Peterbilt Expands BEV Portfolio with All-New Medium Duty Models — Peterbilt expanded its battery-electric truck lineup with all-new medium-duty models, including Models 536EV, 537EV, and 548EV. The all-new Models 536EV and 537EV are engineered for regional delivery as well as service and utility trucks, while the new Class 8 Model 548EV supports 4x2 tractors and vocational configurations with PTOs, such as dump trucks.

Isuzu Groundbreaking Highlights Production Shift to South Carolina — Isuzu North America Corporation held a groundbreaking outside the 1,000,000-square-foot building in Piedmont, South Carolina, that will produce Isuzu’s N-Series Gas, N-Series Electric, and F-Series trucks all under one roof. Production will shift to South Carolina from Charlotte, Michigan, where Builtmore Contract Manufacturing has managed production. The new manufacturing location will be managed by Isuzu.

Mack Trucks Adds 23,000-Pound Rear Axle and 325 Horsepower Engine Rating for Mack MD Series — Mack announced it now offers a 23,000-pound rear axle and Cummins B6.7 engine with up to 325 horsepower on its Mack MD Series medium-duty truck models. Designed for a gross axle weight rating (GAWR) of up to 23,000 pounds, the heavier axle and suspension offer increased capability for hauling loads requiring the most durable trucks. The Mack MD with the 23,000-pound rear axle specifically benefits refuse packers with 11-yard to 20-yard rear loaders, as well as Mack MD models used as water trucks holding 2,000 to 2,500 gallons of water.

Blue Bird's Electric and Propane Medium-Duty Options — Blue Bird announced it is rolling out two new medium-duty stripped chassis platforms designed for step vans and delivery vehicles. One is all-electric, and the other is propane-powered, but both can handle up to 23,000 pounds GVWR. The electric platform is powered by a 140-kWh lithium-ion battery, offers a 178-inch wheelbase, and delivers up to 130 miles of range on a single charge. The propane-powered stripped chassis features a 208-inch wheelbase, an OEM-installed Ford 7.3L V-8 engine, and is paired with a propane autogas system developed by Roush CleanTech.

Terex and Mack Unveil Advanced Electric Bucket Truck — Terex Utilities partnered with Mack Trucks to introduce a zero-emissions bucket truck with enhanced range and increased payload capacity. Terex Utilities installed its Optima HR55 aerial device on the Mack MD7 Electric chassis. According to Terex Utilities, this all-electric bucket truck offers up to 1.5 times the range of other Class 6/7 medium-duty electric chassis bucket trucks and double the rear-axle payload capacity.