Originally Posted by Flyer

It's a sad sad day. After more than 30 years of loyalty to Caterpillar, I will not be able to get one after 2009. The company annouced it's exit from that segement of the market Tuesday. Maybe it's time to get out with them.

Why not put the whole story in when you post. It's not all bad news. It's called evolving and changing to adapt.
http://www.reuters.com/article/rbssA...30003120080612

CHICAGO (Reuters) - Caterpillar Inc (CAT.N: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) and Navistar International Corp NAVZ.PK are forming an alliance to jointly build and sell a variety of trucks worldwide, the companies said on Thursday. The agreement is a sign that the North American truck-making industry is consolidating along the lines of the business in Europe.
"It's imperative for us to be in front of the industry, which is vertically integrating," Doug Oberhelman, head of Caterpillar's engine group, told Reuters.

(...)

Originally Posted by Flyer

I am a little confused by your comment "not posting the whole story", they are exiting the on-highway truck engine segment, the Navistar agreement has nothing to do with the segment.

On page two of the article:

(...)"We're going after a customer base we know well," he said.
Outside North America, Caterpillar and Navistar will introduce a full line of medium and heavy duty on-highway trucks, the companies said.

(...)

http://www.reuters.com/article/rbssA...BrandChannel=0

Companies are adapting by adopting a ROW (Rest Of World) policy. Cat btw makes more money from its product outside the US currently.
You may love their engines but if they can't make a profit here in the US (due to imbecilic restrictions placed by our lib congress and state legislatures) they have to adapt.
Profit is one key reason reason why you have a business otherwise, what's the point?

Originally Posted by Ron-MARS Trucking

Companies are adapting by adopting a ROW (Rest Of World) policy. Cat btw makes more money from its product outside the US currently.
You may love their engines but if they can't make a profit here in the US (due to imbecilic restrictions placed by our lib congress and state legislatures) they have to adapt.
Profit is one key reason reason why you have a business otherwise, what's the point?

That's really sweet and all and I understand it even(imagine that) ,but it's to bad our stupid old American dollars gave them the profit to be able to compete in the ROW.Mechanical Cats will still be running when I'm gone so I couldn't care less if they left the country completely.An after market parts supplier would pop up and gladly take up where they left off.

The beauty of our Free Enterprise System is that if a void or a need is created it will be filled and/or solved. Peruse any tech magazine and you find that there are hundreds of new auto "manufacturers" (inventors) aiming to become the pioneers in the next technological breakthroughs. History is being made right before our eyes and your grandchildren will be asking you about the "Henry Fords" and "Thomas Edisons" of our time.