![]() Kenworth "KW" emblem and name badge | |
![]() A Kenworth W900 – a family of models lettered W after founder, Edgar Worthington, whose name is the "worth" in Kenworth[1] | |
Company type | Division |
---|---|
Industry | Manufacturing |
Predecessor | Gersix Motor Company |
Founded | 1923Seattle, Washington, U.S. | in
Founders | Harry Kent Edgar K. Worthington |
Headquarters | Kirkland, Washington, U.S. |
Products | See listing |
Parent | PACCAR |
Website | www.kenworth.com |
Kenworth Truck Company is an American truck manufacturer. Founded in 1923 as the successor to Gersix Motor Company, Kenworth specializes in production of heavy-duty (Class 8) and medium-duty (Class 5–7) commercial vehicles. Headquartered in the Seattle suburb of Kirkland, Washington, Kenworth has been a wholly owned subsidiary of PACCAR since 1945,[2] operating alongside sister company (and marketplace rival) Peterbilt Motors.
Kenworth marked several firsts in truck production; the company introduced a raised-roof sleeper cab, and the first heavy-duty truck with an aerodynamically optimized body design.[3] The Kenworth W900 has been produced continuously since 1961, serving as one of the longest production runs of any truck in automotive history. The K100 was also released in 1961.