HISTORY OF WESTERN STAR TRUCKS
Western Star Trucks is a company steeped in history, owing its beginnings to the White Motor Corporation.
This enterprise company was formed in 1916 and from the beginning, the quality and dependability became
universally appreciated. By the end of World War I, the White Motor Corporation had produced more than
18,000 trucks and subsequently consolidated their reputation for exceptional reliability and durability
during World War II.
The first White–Western Star truck rolled off the production line in Canada in 1967 and quickly proved
the manufacturer’s claim for outstanding performance and reliability in the demanding logging applications
in the rugged mountains of the Pacific Northwest.
Western Star Trucks were first introduced to Australia in 1983, with its main assembly line located at
Brisbane. Business interests associated with the owner of Western Star Trucks Australia acquired the North
American parent company in 1991, successfully floating the company on the Toronto Stock Exchange in 1994. In 2000,
the North American company was purchased by Daimler Chrysler with the Australian division remaining Australian owned.
In the 40 years since Western Star was unveiled in North America, the versatility and integrity of the
product and the company hasn´t changed. It has successfully competed in such diverse markets as the oil fields
of the Middle East, the tough military requirements of Kuwait, the mountains of Indonesia and the rugged Australian outback.
Western Star Trucks are proud of a reputation for building world-class heavy-duty trucks, which are custom crafted and highly dependable.
In 2000 Western Star Trucks Australia acquired distribution exclusivity for all MAN products within
Australia/NZ and created MAN Automotive Imports. Western Star Trucks Australia and MAN Automotive
Imports merged as a result of this acquisition, with sales and after sales support services conducted
out of the WSTA/MAI Asia Pacific Headquarters located in Brisbane, Queensland. WSTA/MAI employs 200
people with a varied and diverse range of skills all gathered for one purpose, the sale and after sale
support of MAN truck/bus and Western Star truck products. Sales and after sales service is provided
throughout the country via 65 separate dealer outlets, each dedicated to the products longevity in the
Australian marketplace. WSTA/MAI also have dealer representation in New Zealand,
Indonesia and Southeast Asia.
Western Star Trucks Australia Pty Ltd is a wholly owned subsidiary of listed public entity Transpacific Industries Group Ltd.
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