why Caterpillar got out of firstly supplying truck engines

Slightly off topic, watched a youtube episode recently on just why Caterpillar got out of firstly supplying truck engines to mobs like Paccar, Frightliner, Western Star etc and then gave up on producing their own truck with their own engine.
Seems primary reason was they simply wouldnt spend the amount of money to bring the truck engines up to emission specs. At the time, they were supplying 40% of on road engines, where as the mining, construction, seagoing engines were not under the same strict scrutiny.
Just how diversified Cat had become, when they say that the on road truck engine division only accounted for less than
10% of their total income.
I'm not sure just what level the Europeans are currently running, Euro 5 or 6?
Maybe another reason why Paccar offered the DAF powerplant and perhaps the Mack/Volvo tie up?
Following this logic, it would seem that of the US maufacturers, only Crummins was willing to pour money into R&D?
Detroit has virtually all but died a natural death, funny how none of them with the exception of Cummins, are willing to put their hands in their pockets.
No wonder the European mobs like Volvo, Scania, M-B, DAF have such a chunk of the market.
My opinion only, may have it ass-backwards, but that was the way I interpreted it.
Dave_64

The loose engine market is shrinking. With M-B scooping up Western Star, Freightliner, Fuso and Detroit Diesel, Daimler Trucks are charging an exorbitant premium for Cummins or Cat to be fitted to two of the traditional brands, previously offering those engines.
Paccar are in the same boat with K.W. and P.B., since buying Daf, which came with its proprietary engine; two more regular brands put at a great disadvantage from loose engine supplier's point of view.
In summary, all of the major over the road customers now have their own proprietary engines that they can make more profit from, than fitting an engine from an outside supplier.
Combine the aforementioned with the elephant in the room, the push toward replacement of ICE, I imagine Cat could not see viability in investment of a relatively short term income stream.

Interesting aside: Daf engines original architecture was from Leyland and the 680 engine.
Who'd've thought Kenworth road trains would be powered by a Leyland engine? (TiC, a long bow :lol:)

Sooner or later CAT will have to do R&D as what happens in one industry, in time, will carry over to another. So the Earth moving side of things CAT will have to invest in their product or do the unthinkable, buy in motors from another manufacturer. Now that would be a kick in the @rse for them.

Well they own Perkins who seem to be keeping up to the technology mark with the smaller engines. Maybe we will see B-Doubles cruising the highways once again with the 4 ring badge on the front?

I reckon Cummins has something up their sleeve recently acquiring Meritor.
As for Cat, seems every truck driving youtuber is reinstalling a mechanical 3406.

Reckon that'd be right, retrofitting 3406 mehanical engines.
Although a bit thirsty, you couldnt kill them with an axe!
Dave_64

Interestingly the Army Bushmaster vehicles are running Cat 6 cylinder engines.
Pierre

Now there is a vehicle and a half those Bushman jiggers. So how does the Army get away running an engine that doesn't conform?

Cobba the engine might comply to the rules

It may not be in the same tune as a normal truck motor

Paul

I suspect there is no obligation for the military to abide by any rules. Their only thought would be for power and fuel efficiency improvements. When you think about it pretty ridiculous to have them stuffing around with AdBlue on a tank which is about to shell a building and start a conflagration the size of the Great Fire of London. Any emissions improvement will be driven by civilian development and the military benefit from what is on the market at that time when designing new vehicles.

In the civilian world most unregistered earthmoving machinery can have their engines cranked up to full song while a truck with the same engine is crippled by emissions hardware and detuning.

The rules apply to vehicles being sold and registered in countries that have compulsory standards - nearly every country. I think two different development streams.

Lang