The sun will soon set on a Kenworth icon. The company announced Wednesday it will end production of its legacy 1.9-meter cab Class 8 trucks, which includes Kenworth’s W900 (W900L and W900B models), T800W (wide-hood), and the C500 in 2026.
As first reported by TPS sister publication Overdrive on Tuesday, Kenworth says the decision is due to evolving emissions regulations and component constraints as the industry moves forward with new, more efficient and better integrated technologies and products.
A final call for truck orders will be announced later in 2025, the company says.
“We know these legacy Kenworth models are an integral part of our history here at Kenworth, which makes this decision a difficult but necessary one as we enter the next era of trucking,” says Kevin Haygood, Kenworth’s assistant general manager for sales and marketing.
“As we transition to future products, we remain committed to honoring the spirit of these iconic trucks by delivering innovation, efficiency, and the same level of craftsmanship that our customers and drivers have trusted for generations.”
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Kenworth says its W990 and T880 are well-positioned to continue supporting customers familiar with the W900 and T800 models. The company specifically notes the T880's newly designed performance hood is compatible with large displacement engines including the Cummins X15, rated up to 605 hp and 2,050 lb.-ft. of torque, making it a viable option for T800W applications.
Kenworth also states it will provide comprehensive support and guidance to dealers and customers who will require a transition, which Overdrive cited Tuesday in its report.
The W900 was launched in 1963 and is the longest running truck model in the Class 8 space. Kenworth says it has long been a favorite for long-haul, heavy-haul, logging, dump and other vocational and on-highway applications.
The W900A provided improved cooling for optimal engine operation, the W900B debuted with a cab update and additional cooling innovations, the W900S was designed for ready mixed concrete-specific applications, and W900L brought a long-hood variation for performance and appearance, the company says.
Kenworth's T800W
The T800 was introduced in 1986 and set a high bar for vocational trucks by blending durability, performance and jobsite versatility. Kenworth says the T800W has remained a favorite among operators in heavy-haul and off-road applications and is built to accommodate large engines with increased cooling capacity and rugged components. That toughness made it ideal for specialized heavy-haul, oilfield work, logging and other demanding jobs, Kenworth says.
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The company also states the C500 is one of the toughest and most rugged vocational trucks ever built. Introduced in 1972, it was specifically designed for extreme heavy-haul, oilfield, logging, mining and off-road applications where weight capacity, durability, power and reliability are critical. Kenworth says the C500 is a purpose-built workhorse made to handle the harshest conditions worldwide, offering a gross combination weight rating of up to a million pounds in specialty heavy-haul applications and operating in locations and conditions where no other commercially available truck can.
Kenworth C500 twin steer
