Navistar Makes Quiet Press Announcements at MATS

Truck and engine maker Navistar International on Wednesday made a decidedly lower-key appearance before the trucking press, in contrast to last year’s event at the Mid-America Trucking Show in Louisville that featured much pomp and circumstance.

It was Navistar's first appearance at the trucking show since announcing last year it was abandoning its policy of being the lone engine maker in the country to rely purely on exhaust gas recirculation technology (EGR) to meet federal emissions requirements, and moving to selective catalytic reduction (SCR) technology.

Company officials said since making the change in strategy, Navistar's once-sagging stock price has been bolstered. Management has also significantly changed including naming Troy Clarke, current COO and president, its new CEO effective April 15.

Since December, Navistar says, it has built 1,100 ProStar model trucks equipped with Cummins ISX 15 engine with SCR technology. Navistar also said that ProStar models equipped with its MaxxForce 13 engine with SCR will start being delivered to customers next month.

In a statement, the company praised the MaxxForce 13 engine that it has put together with Cummins SCR: “The MaxxForce 13 features the proven Cummins Emission Solutions after-treatment system and includes numerous improvements to the turbochargers, EGR valves, high and low temperature coolers and exhaust bellows. The electronic control module recalibration to the SCR system will help the engine deliver more advanced fuel economy and improved overall power and throttle response.”

ProStar with MaxxForce 13 with SCR, said Navistar, offers fleets and drivers the efficient power of a big bore engine with lighter weight components to maximize payload. Its design and compacted graphite iron block construction it said make it one of the lightest weight 13-liter engines in the industry. Horsepower options range from 365 to 475 with 1,250-1,700 pounds-feet of torque. By the time it’s released Navistar said it will have a million miles of testing of the engine model under its belt.

The company noted the remaining lineup of its heavy-duty truck models will transition to SCR-based engine technology in a phased launch throughout the year.

Also during the gathering company officials gave some details to what it calls Project Horizon, a demonstration truck that is loaded with advanced powertrain, ergonomic and aerodynamic technologies that it is testing and if successful, it plans to introduce in the next two to three years.

Finally, Navistar announced that its International truck dealer network has invested nearly $60 million in the past year to renovate or add more than 250 additional service bays. Dealerships throughout the network it said have adopted newly prescribed customer service requirements including the expansion of service hours by more than 22%, increased technician training and investments in service and maintenance equipment.