Production of the Volvo VNX has been temporarily halted, Volvo has said. The D16 engine has also been permanently shelved, the company says.Volvo Trucks has discontinued its 16-liter engine and has halted production of its VNX tractor, the company has confirmed with Overdrive. Market conditions dictated both decisions, the company says.
The changes are effective immediately, says Volvo spokesperson Brandon Borgna.
The company’s dealer network received notice Friday, Borgna says. The 16-liter D16 has seen “limited market demand,” he says, as more and more customers opt for the smaller D13. “We continue to see a general shift among our highway customers toward the lighter, more fuel-efficient Volvo D13 engine, which comprises the most popular engine displacement in North America,” Borgna says.
Volvo will continue to service existing D16 engines.
Despite the production stop, Volvo intends to keep the VNX in its product lineup, Borgna says, following further market analysis. “In the interim, we intend to offer an X-package for the VNL model, providing the ride height and heavy-haul attributes of the VNX with either the Volvo D13 or Cummins X15 engine. The package will include a 20,000-lb front axle, dual steering gears, heavy-duty bumper, chrome grille, high ride height for improved ground clearance, and 500 horsepower versions of the Volvo D13 and Cummins X15 engines.”
