Kenworth Introduces C580 Extreme-Duty Vocational Truck

Source: Kenworth ↗

Kenworth’s replacement for the C500 will support up to 44,000 pounds on twin steer axles and up to 165,000 pounds on tandem rear axles when it enters production in January 2027.

The company unveiled the Kenworth C580 at CONEXPO-CON/AGG in Las Vegas on March 3, 2026. The C500, which has been in production since 1972, sunsets in 2026; the C580 is its full replacement. Government fleets operating in extreme off-highway conditions, including departments of transportation with heavy equipment transport missions, oilfield-adjacent agency operations, and public utilities running prime mover equipment in remote terrain, are the natural end users for the platform.

“The Kenworth C580 marks a new era in extreme-duty performance, capable of hauling a gross combination weight of up to one million pounds,” Kevin Haygood, Kenworth’s assistant general manager for sales and marketing, said in the announcement. “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. 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.”

The C580 is offered in single- or twin-steer axle configurations. Front-drive axle options enable 4×4, 6×6, 8×8 and 10×10 drivetrain builds. The standard powertrain for EPA-compliant orders is the Cummins X15 at ratings up to 605 horsepower and 2,050 lb.-ft. of torque. Transmission choices include manual units, Allison 4000 and 6000 Series automatics, and, new to the extreme-duty segment, the Eaton Endurant XD Pro automated transmission. Cummins X15 engines with Euro-level emissions compliance are available for export markets.

C580 Key Specifications

The cooling system is built around a 1,780-square-inch module designed for stationary, high-altitude and extreme-heat operation. Full-length parent frame rails extend to the front of the chassis and support front-end power take-off capability. Standard dual 13-inch cowl-mounted ERA air cleaners are serviceable without special tooling. Wiring harnesses are double-wrapped and abrasion resistant; the hood and fenders are sheet metal. A five-piece crossmember design and common electrical architecture with other Kenworth vocational models, including the T880, allow body-company integration of power take-offs, auxiliary lighting, remote throttle controls and body-specific functions without custom wiring work.

Inside, the cab carries a 15-inch digital display for gauges and vehicle data, heated LED headlamps as standard equipment, a larger windshield than the C500, an optimized hood slope for forward visibility, and increased space between seats. Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) are available, and Kenworth’s TruckTech+ Remote Diagnostics provides real-time data on vehicle health and usage for fleets monitoring assets in remote or severe environments.

“These trucks have been to the Arctic in the oilfields; in Borneo hauling logs and coal; in Asia transporting massive mining equipment; and deep in the Amazon hauling transformers,” Haygood said. “They’ve gone 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.” Haygood said 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. “With the launch of the C580, Kenworth continues to offer the most complete vocational lineup in the industry,” he said. “From the medium-duty T280 to the extreme-duty C580, Kenworth offers the right truck for every job.”