The expansion of worldwide manufacturing has reshaped the vehicle sector by allowing firms to seek lower labor costs and boost earnings. Recent policy efforts now emphasize boosting domestic content in American vehicles, with only Tesla and Jeep ranking in the top ten of the 2026 American-Made Index among U.S.-based marques.

Attention has turned more slowly to heavy trucks, yet many popular models continue rolling off U.S. assembly lines. Freightliner, Peterbilt, Kenworth, Mack, Western Star, and International all maintain domestic plants, as does Volvo. Ownership structures add complexity because several familiar names now belong to overseas corporations. The following sections outline each brand's current Class 8 market position to show real-world performance.

Kenworth

Kenworth traces its start to 1923 when Harry Kent and Edgar Worthington formed the firm to serve Pacific Northwest lumber operations. Standard trucks struggled on narrow, muddy logging roads, prompting the partners to design more capable vehicles. The brand earned early notice for technical advances, including the first standard diesel engine offered by a U.S. maker and the industry's initial vertical exhaust routing. It also pioneered the integrated sleeper cab.

Recent success with models such as the T680, praised for fuel economy and updated features, gave Kenworth 15.1 percent of 2025 Class 8 sales. Production remains centered near its origins, with facilities in Renton, Washington, and Chillicothe, Ohio. Engines come from the PACCAR plant in Columbus, Mississippi. PACCAR, a domestic corporation, also controls Peterbilt and DAF while operating Kenworth Australia as a separate entity.

Peterbilt

Peterbilt emerged from similar logging challenges in the Pacific Northwest. In 1939 lumber executive Al Peterman acquired California-based Fageol Motors to build specialized trucks, and PACCAR purchased the operation in 1958. Although Kenworth and Peterbilt retain distinct styling, they share many powertrain and warranty elements. Their 2025 market shares stood nearly even at 15.1 percent and 15.3 percent respectively.

Both brands supply U.S. fleets from the Denton, Texas, plant that also houses Peterbilt headquarters. Limited-edition models celebrating national milestones include Kenworth's TourAmerica scheme and Peterbilt's Model 589 special edition. Additional North American output occurs in Canada and Mexico for regional markets.

Volvo and Mack

Mack began building vehicles in 1900 and trucks by 1905, while Volvo entered the segment in 1928. Mack passed through Renault ownership before Volvo acquired the French firm in 2001. The largest Volvo truck factory worldwide sits in Dublin, Virginia, spanning 2.3 million square feet and producing both Volvo and Mack models. Mack also operates sites in Macungie and Salem, Pennsylvania.

Volvo ended 2025 with 9.1 percent market share after a sales decline, whereas Mack posted the only gain among major brands with an 8.7 percent share following a 9.7 percent sales rise. Both marques also build trucks at a shared facility in Brisbane, Australia.

International

International traces roots to International Harvester, founded in 1902. After divesting agricultural lines in the 1980s, remaining truck operations became Navistar. The Traton Group, part of Volkswagen, acquired Navistar and later prompted a return to the International Motors name. U.S. assembly for domestic customers occurs in San Antonio, supported by an engine plant in Huntsville, Alabama, and a bus facility in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

These sites helped secure 11 percent of 2025 Class 8 volume. Additional output comes from plants in Mexico and Ohio, though the Ohio facility is slated for sale to defense contractor Roshel after September 2026.

Freightliner and Western Star

Freightliner originated in 1942 when Leland James sought lighter aluminum construction to cut fuel expenses. The 1950 B42 cab-over model marked the first production realization of that goal. The brand reached its 100,000th truck in 1972 and held 35.2 percent of the 2025 U.S. Class 8 market, led by the Cascadia, North America's top-selling model in the segment.

Domestic plants operate in Portland, Oregon; Cleveland and Mount Holly, North Carolina; and Fort Mill and Gaffney, South Carolina. Since 1981 Freightliner has belonged to Germany's Daimler, which also controls Western Star. Western Star captured roughly 5.5 percent of 2025 sales from shared facilities in Portland and Cleveland.