WARRENVILLE, Ill., (October 2, 2008 - Navistar International Corporation NYSE: NAV) Navistar Defense has begun to produce the International® MaxxPro™ Dash at the company’s West Point, Miss., plant with delivery of 822 units to be completed by February 2009. Full production is scheduled to begin by mid-October. 

Designed for the unique conditions in Afghanistan, the Dash is a smaller and more mobile variant of the MaxxPro Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) advanced armored vehicle. The Dash maintains the survivability system used on all MaxxPro MRAP variants while also allowing for greater mobility in a smaller, lighter weight vehicle optimized for Afghanistan operations. A smaller turning radius and higher torque-to-weight ratio are among the improvements to its mobility. MaxxPro Dash is also capable of accommodating additional up-armoring. Supportability and maintainability are maximized with a high-degree of commonality of parts among all MaxxPro variants.

“Navistar is dedicated to the overall sustainability of its defense business with ongoing revenue of at least $2 billion a year,” said Archie Massicotte, president, Navistar Defense. “In addition to our ongoing U.S. military contracts and our efforts to compete for the upcoming Joint Light Tactical Vehicle program, Navistar Defense is actively pursuing new business with multiple U.S. allies.”

The MaxxPro Dash is the sixth variant in 12 months from Navistar’s MaxxPro MRAP vehicle platform. Since the initial contract in May 2007, Navistar has won more than $3 billion in contracts to produce a total of more than 6,044 MRAP vehicles. Navistar’s MRAP platform includes the MaxxPro, MaxxPro Plus, MaxxPro ambulance, MaxxPro MEAP, MaxxPro Air Force and MaxxPro Dash.

In May, the U.S. Army awarded Navistar Defense a three-year $1.3 billion contract for 7,072 Medium Tactical Vehicles (MTV) for use in Afghanistan and Iraq, which are built at the West Point facility. Approximately half of the order will be delivered during the first year of the contract with nearly 1,000 units expected to be delivered in the company’s fiscal year 2008 ending October 31. The plant is also transitioning production from the MaxxPro to the smaller, lighter MaxxPro Dash. The plant will continue to build a reduced number of MaxxPro vehicles as required to meet continued replacement demand. Total West Point production with MaxxPro Dash and MTVs will be approximately 500 units a month.

Navistar Defense is an affiliate of Navistar International Corporation (NYSE: NAV), a holding company whose subsidiaries and affiliates produce International® brand commercial and military vehicles, MaxxForce™ brand diesel engines, IC brand school and commercial buses, and Workhorse® brand chassis for motor homes and step vans. Navistar is also a private-label designer and manufacturer of diesel engines for the pickup truck, van and SUV markets. The company also provides truck and diesel engine parts and service. Another affiliate offers financing services.