International’s ProStar ES combines a bevy of fuel-saving systems rolled into one spec package.Navistar’s OnCommand Connection remote diagnostics system will now be free and standard on all 2007 and newer model International trucks, the company announced this week at the Mid-America Trucking Show in Louisville.
It no longer will be charging a monthly fee for the service, the company announced, and it will be giving new OnCommand subscribers what they call a “telematics credit” — a stipend of sorts that truck buyers can use to buy hardware and data service for telematics systems.
The credit can be used on base model telematics hardware and two years of data service on International vehicles upon activiation of OnCommand, starting July 2015. Navistar does not yet have a firm dollar amount on how much it will provide, but will have more details in the coming months, it said.
The OnCommand fee waiver and the telematics credit are part of the company’s recent “Uptime” efforts, announced earlier this year. Navistar says its focus now from manufacturing through a vehicle’s life is to limit downtime with two basic tenets: Keep trucks out of the shop through quality builds, but also to limit dwell time when trucks do need repairs.
International also announced at the show enhancements to its new International ProStar ES (efficiency spec) and that it is the first truck maker to offer Bendix’ new Wingman Fusion active safety system, also unveiled at MATS.
Updates to the ProStar ES include availability of Cummins’ new ADEPT powertrain, which includes SmartTorque2 and SmartCoast, announced earlier this week by Cummins at the show.
The ADEPT is centerpieced by the Cummins ISX15 and uses a suite of advanced electronic features that allow the engine to interact with automated-manual transmissions.
It also employs Cummins’ SmartCoast.
These features are also available on non-ES ProStar models powered by the Cummins ISX15.
The ProStar ES also is available with Navistar’s proprietary N13 engine, coupled with the Eaton Fuller Advantage automated-manual transmission.
