Navistar is now offering customers “extra savings and peace of mind” when buying an International DuraStar diesel/electric hybrid truck. Among the new options is a 60-month battery-lease program, said to be the first of its kind in the North American truck industry. It results in $10,000 coming off the purchase price of the truck. There’s also a 60-month fair-market-value lease and, for Americans at least, a $6000 tax-match incentive.

"These three new programs are for customers who are feeling the pinch of fuel prices and who are looking for a greener alternative," says Jim Hebe, senior vice president, North American sales operations. "These new programs help give customers a shorter payback period to realize their return on investment."

Hybrid medium-duty trucks can bring from 30 to 60% fuel savings over traditional diesel-powered vehicles, depending on the application. That represents several thousand dollars in annual operating-cost reductions per truck, as well as chopping carbon-dioxide emissions by as many as 16.5 tons.

The DuraStar Hybrid qualifies for U.S. federal tax credits of $3000 to $12,000, depending on application and GVW, for most customers. International is offering an additional $6000 matching "Green" credit for qualifying buyers. Given that there’s no such credit in Canada, it was unclear at press time how Navistar would treat Canadian buyers in this regard.

With the 60-month fair market value lease on the DuraStar hybrid, customers will have the option when the lease expires to either purchase the truck or just walk away.

In addition, Navistar is offering a simple, 60-month battery-lease program for the DuraStar Hybrid — the first of its kind in the North American commercial truck industry. The customer will receive an additional $10,000 off the purchase price of the vehicle in exchange for paying 60 monthly lease payments on the truck battery.

All three programs run through December 31, 2008. See your dealer for further details.