The 90,000th Australian-designed and manufactured Kenworth truck was officially delivered to McColls Transport during a celebration at PACCAR’s Bayswater production facility in Melbourne.
Since commencing local manufacturing in 1971, Kenworth has consistently expanded to meet growing demand. The company reached an early milestone in 1974 with the delivery of the 1,000th Australian made truck a K125CR. More than fifty-five years later, the 90,000th Kenworth has been produced at Bayswater, and delivered to Geelong-based McColls Transport during an all-employee event celebrating Australian manufacturing, where both vehicles were displayed.
Kenworth employees were joined by McColls CEO, Simon Thornton, along with National Fleet Manager, John Hovey, who accepted the keys to their new T909 from PACCAR Australia Managing Director, Damian Smethurst.
Damian said, “This marks a significant achievement for PACCAR in Australia, and reflects the longstanding dedication of its employees, dealers, suppliers and customers. The production of the 90,000th truck is a source of immense pride for PACCAR and represents a strong commitment to the Australian transport industry.”
“While this milestone underscores PACCAR’s manufacturing legacy, the company remains focused on delivering quality and value with every Australian-built Kenworth. Each truck is purpose-built to suit its specific application and operating environment, with meticulous attention to detail that ensures the durability, performance, and reliability expected by our customers. This approach continues to differentiate the Kenworth brand in the Australian heavy-duty truck market.”
Customers such as McColls Transport play an integral role in this success. In April 2016, they took delivery of their 200th Kenworth, a K200. With the addition of this latest T909, McColls has now taken delivery of nearly 400 Kenworth trucks, reflecting a long-standing partnership built on performance and trust.
PACCAR also acknowledges the critical contribution of its Australian supply partners, many of whom have supported the Bayswater facility since the plant commenced production in 1971. Their ongoing commitment to quality and innovation is fundamental to Kenworth’s manufacturing operations. Together, PACCAR and its partners continue to deliver industry leading products that support customers across Australia, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea.
