LOUISVILLE, KY. Bill Kozek, Navistar’s president of North America Truck and Parts, declared right at the start of the International Trucks news conference here at MATS that the OEM is “producing the best products that we have ever offered-- and we are gaining recognition for it from the industry.”
Kozek noted that a year ago the OEM was beginning its transition to SCR (selective catalytic reduction) engine technology” and said now that “it is incredibly satisfying to say that the very first of our SCR products [the ProStar powered by the Cummins ISX15] has been named ATD 2014 Truck of the Year.”
Pointing out that Navistar initiated its SCR medium-duty transition late last year, which included launching the Cummins ISB 6.7L engine in its DuraStar truck, Kozek reported that the OEM’s proprietary MaxxForce 9- and 10-L engines with SCR will become available for DuraStar and WorkStar medium trucks beginning this summer.
In his remarks, Kozek also spotlighted the International OnCommand Connection remote-diagnostics system that was announced by the OEM last fall.
In particular, he emphasized that along with “supporting quicker repairs and controlling maintenance and repair costs,” OnCommand Connection is the “first single remote-diagnostics portal to use an open architecture system with fleets’ existing telematics providers.”
In reply to a question about International Trucks’ market position, Kozek said that “yes, we have had a reduction in market share, but ultimately it's about getting customers into today's products— it comes down to Sales 101.”
In addition, Kozek told FleetOwner that— at least for now— the OEM is sticking with its forecast that 2014 sales for Class 8 trucks will number “in the neighborhood of 220,00 to 230,000 units.”
