GARLAND, Texas (February 3, 2009) – Navistar (NYSE: NAV), the manufacturer of International® brand trucks, will honor a leading beverage distributor, Ben E. Keith, with a plaque recognizing their contributions to the design and development of the International DuraStar® Hybrid beverage tractor.

Representatives of Ben E. Keith will receive their recognition plaque as they take possession of their new hybrid tractor. The key transfer ceremony will take place at Navistar’s manufacturing plant in Garland, Texas at 11:30 AM on Thursday, February 5, 2009.

“We are honored that Ben E. Keith, a highly regarded beverage distributor in the State of Texas, partnered with Navistar to design a hybrid electric diesel engine beverage tractor. Their new tractor will conserve energy and reduce their carbon footprint. Ben E. Keith’s early design involvement helped Navistar bring this beverage delivery product to market swiftly and demonstrates their firm commitment to a cleaner environment.” said Jim Williams, director, sales and distribution for new products, Navistar.

“Navistar was the first truck OEM to announce line production of hybrid commercial trucks and hybrid technology. This is a critical development for the commercial trucking industry. The DuraStar Hybrid improves fuel efficiency. It also reduces engine emissions—and that means a better environment for all of us.” said Russ Trimble, dealer principal of Southwest International Truck.

“Ben E. Keith is extremely excited to receive the first hybrid beverage tractor,” said Kevin Bartholomew, president of Ben E. Keith Beverage Distributors. “We continually look for new opportunities to reduce our carbon footprint and when International presented this new technology, we knew Navistar listened to what Ben E. Keith was trying to accomplish. The net result is a new product that furthers our green initiatives in the communities we serve.”

The International DuraStar Hybrid provides fuel savings of 30-40 percent on standard in-city pickup and delivery applications. And the truck’s fuel efficiency can increase to more than 60 percent in applications such as a utility truck with a bucket because the vehicle can operate equipment with the engine turned off. The Hybrid Truck Users Forum, a consortium of utility industry customers, estimates that nearly 1,000 gallons of fuel can be saved annually on utility trucks.

The DuraStar Hybrid will be on display at Garland Plant located at 4030 Forest Lane, Garland, Texas 75042 on Thursday, February 5 from 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. during the International Hybrid Grant Writing Workshop.
 

About Ben E. Keith Beverage Distributors
Ben E. Keith Company, established in 1906, began selling Anheuser-Busch products in 1933. Today, Ben E. Keith Company – Beverage Distributors is one of the largest independent Anheuser-Busch wholesalers in the country. The company also distributes import beers, craft beers, wine products and nonalcoholic beverages. With ten regional branches in Texas including Abilene, Austin, Commerce, Dallas, Denton, Fort Worth, Houston, Llano, Palestine and Waco, the company operates throughout the state of Texas. Additional information is available at http://www.benekeith.com/beverage.
 

About Southwest International Trucks
Southwest International Trucks is a full-service dealership with locations serving customers in Arlington, Bridgeport, Dallas, Fort Worth, McKinney, TX. Southwest International is also an Idealease affiliate.