Here’s what you need to know:
- Kenworth has officially unveiled the C580 at the 2026 ConExpo-Con/Agg as the replacement for the iconic C500, designed to handle extreme-duty applications with a gross combination weight of up to one million pounds.
- The new model pairs the proven ruggedness of the C500 chassis with modern technology, including a 15-in., digital display, Advanced Driver Assistance Systems and the Eaton Endurant XD Pro transmission.
- Scheduled for production in January 2027, the C580 features customizable axle configurations (up to 10x10) and is powered by the Cummins X15 engine, offering up to 605 horsepower to tackle the harshest global environments.
It was sad news for truckers and fleets across North America when the news broke last March that Kenworth would sunset its iconic C500 model, along with the W900 and T800W, due to regulatory and production constraints.
Fortunately for those missing the C500, Kenworth didn’t wait long in introducing its revolutionary replacement.
The company introduced Tuesday at the 2026 ConExpo-Con/Agg show in Las Vegas its all-new Kenworth C580, the next evolution in extreme-duty vocational performance. As the replacement for the legendary C500, Kenworth says the new C580 reinforces Kenworth’s position as the industry leader in vocational truck lineup offerings and is designed to meet the most demanding off-highway and severe-service applications.
“The Kenworth C580 marks a new era in extreme-duty performance, capable of hauling a gross combination weight of up to one million pounds. For more than 50 years, the C500 set the benchmark in severe-service applications around the world, operating in conditions and applications no other commercially available truck can,” says Kevin Haygood, Kenworth’s assistant general manager for sales and marketing.
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“With the C580, we honor that legacy while delivering a more capable and technologically advanced truck that meets the expectations of today’s vocational customers.”
How the Kenworth C580 reinvents the C500 legacy
Kenworth says the C580 blends the proven durability of the C500 chassis with the modern comfort, technology and integration of Kenworth’s latest cab platform. Production of the C580 is scheduled to begin January 2027, with the model fully replacing the C500 as its sunset this year.
In launching the new tractor, Haygood says Kenworth remains the only OEM serving the extreme-duty, off-highway vocational industries, with the C580 the only truck of its class on the market.
The C500 earned its reputation as one of the most rugged and capable vocational trucks ever built. It became a staple in industries such as mining, oilfield operations, logging, heavy equipment transport, and prime mover applications domestically and globally, where extreme loads, harsh terrain and nonstop duty cycles are the norm.
Haygood says the C500 went “where no other truck could go, and now the new C580 will do the same — handling the most demanding jobs on and off the road.”
Rugged versatility defines the C580 spec options
Kenworth says the new truck is available in single- or twin-steer axle configurations, with front-drive axle options enabling 4x4, 6x6, 8x8, and 10x10 configurations. High-capacity axle ratings support up to 44,000 lb., on twin steer axles and up to 165,000 lb., on tandem rear axles.
In North America, the C580 will be standard with EPA compliant Cummins X15 engines, with ratings up to 605 horsepower and 2,050 lb.-ft., of torque. Kenworth says additional Cummins X15 engines are available with several levels of Euro emissions compliance for export to international markets. The C580 features Kenworth’s full suite of transmission offerings, including manual transmissions, Allison 4000 and 6000 Series automatics, and for the first time in the extreme-duty segment, the advanced Eaton Endurant XD Pro automated transmission.
The C580 also features a large 1,780 sq.-in., cooling module and is designed to handle high-horsepower operation in stationary, high-altitude, and extreme-heat environments. Full-length parent frame rails extend to the front of the chassis and support FEPTO capability for specialized vocational applications. Standard dual 13-inch cowl-mounted ERA air cleaners offer high performance, ease of service and classic Kenworth styling, the company says.
Extreme performance meets modern cab technology
Inside the cab, the C580 delivers modern comfort and technology offered in other Kenworth vocational models, including the T880. The C580’s new cab offers excellent visibility, a larger windshield, optimized hood slope and increased room between seats compared to its predecessor. Kenworth states a customizable 15-in., digital display places all gauges and critical information clearly in view, supporting safer and more efficient operation. New heated LED headlamps are standard on the C580, enhancing driver safety in all conditions.
Kenworth’s technology-forward cab also makes C580 the extreme-duty platform of choice today and going forward into the future. Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) improve driver safety, while TruckTech+ Remote Diagnostics delivers real-time fleet insights into the usage and health of vehicles.
Finally, designed with durability in mind, Kenworth says the new truck features abrasion-resistant double-wrapped exterior wiring harnesses, a sheet metal hood and fenders, robust five-piece crossmembers, and enhanced serviceability and component access to support body installations. Common electrical architecture with other Kenworth vocational models allows for seamless integration of power takeoffs, auxiliary lighting, remote throttle controls, and body-specific functionality, the company says.
“With the launch of the C580, Kenworth continues to offer the most complete vocational lineup in the industry. From the medium-duty T280 to the extreme-duty C580, Kenworth offers the right truck for every job,” says Haygood.
