Navistar Latest Truckmaker to Decide on Bi-Annual MATS Exhibit

[kscarbel2]

Heavy Duty Trucking / July 10, 2015

Navistar is following in the footsteps of Daimler Trucks North America and Volvo Trucks in deciding to skip exhibiting at the 2016 Mid-America Trucking Show, with plans to return in 2017.

The annual show, founded in 1972 and held in March at the Kentucky Fair and Expo Center in Louisville, Ky., is the largest in the U.S. The 2015 show set an all-time record for attendance with 81,768 attendees. There were more than 1,000 exhibitors filling 1.2 million square feet of exhibit space.

"We’ve made the decision to not attend the 2016 Mid-America Trucking Show," Navistar spokesman Steve Schrier told Truckinginfo.com in response to an email query. "We look forward to returning to the Mid-America Trucking Show in 2017 to showcase our technology and products."

Toby Young with Exhibit Management Associates, which puts on the show, told Truckinginfo, "Navistar has been a strong supporter of MATS, participating every year since the first MATS in 1972. Their presence at the 2016 show will be missed.

"We will continue as planned with sales for the 2016 MATS beginning on July 15 and, given the recent news, additional exhibit space opportunities for returning and new exhibitors."

In May, Daimler Trucks North America said it will not exhibit at the Mid-America Trucking Show in 2016, saying it is moving to an every-other-year format similar to the IAA Commercial Vehicles show in Germany. DTNA intends to return to MATS in 2017 and attend the show bi-annually thereafter.

At that time, Navistar Truck and Parts President Bill Kozek commented in response, "Although we have not yet committed to attending MATS in 2016, we do believe that moving to a bi-annual schedule would be beneficial to exhibitors and customers alike."

Just days ago, Volvo Trucks followed Daimler's lead, also saying that it believed "a show like MATS would benefit from a biennial calendar."

One major trailer maker, Wabash National, hasn't exhibited at MATS for the past few years, according to Dana Stelsel, corporate communications manager. “TMC [the Technology & Maintenance Council’s annual meeting and expo] is our ‘big’ show of the year on the van and composites side.”

Related reading:

http://www.bigmacktrucks.com/index.php?/topic/40797-volvo-becomes-second-oem-to-pull-out-of-mats-next-year/

http://www.bigmacktrucks.com/index.php?/topic/40008-daimler-trucks-pulls-out-of-mid-america-trucking-show-in-2016/?hl=mats

[kscarbel2]

Navistar Is Third OEM to Skip MATS in 2016

Transport Topics / July 13, 2015

Navistar Inc. said it will not attend the 2016 Mid-America Trucking Show, making it the third major truck manufacturer to pull out of the event.

“We’ve made the decision to not attend the 2016 Mid-America Trucking Show,” Navistar spokeswoman Lyndi McMillan said. “We look forward to returning to the Mid-America Trucking Show in 2017 to showcase our technology and products.”

Daimler Trucks North America and Volvo Trucks previously said they would not be exhibiting at MATS next year.

“Navistar has been a strong supporter of MATS, participating every year since the first MATS in 1972. Their presence at the 2016 show will be missed,” said Toby Young, president of Exhibit Management Associates, which owns and operates the show held each year in Louisville, Kentucky.

DTNA, Volvo Trucks and Navistar have expressed support for the annual show to move to a biennial schedule, and all three said they plan to return to MATS in 2017.

Together, those original equipment manufacturers accounted for 63% of all Class 8 trucks sold in the United States in 2014.

Despite the absence of those OEMs, Young said MATS organizers will continue as planned with sales beginning July 15 for the 2016 show.

“MATS has a contract with the City of Louisville and the Kentucky Exposition Center through 2020, so the show will continue on an annual basis as scheduled,” he said.

Young also said the recent news opens up additional space opportunities for returning and new exhibitors.

Mack Trucks, a sister company to Volvo Trucks, has not announced a decision regarding MATS; nor have Kenworth Truck Co. and Peterbilt Motors Co., which are part of Paccar Inc.

[kscarbel2]

Navistar bails on MATS 2016

Fleet Owner / July 13, 2015

Navistar is the third OEM to withdraw from next year’s Mid-America Trucking Show (MATS). It follows Volvo Trucks and Daimler Trucks North America to pull out of the 2016 show.

“We’ve made the decision to not attend the 2016 Mid-America Trucking Show,” said Lyndi McMillan, Navistar communications manager. “We look forward to returning to the Mid-America Trucking Show in 2017 to showcase our technology and products.”

Both Daimler and Volvo believe MATS would benefit from a biennial calendar in the same way that IAA in Germany is held every second year.

“We evaluate all our sales and marketing activities when we develop our business plan for the following year,” said Avery Vise, Volvo Trucks public relations manager. “As part of that effort, we have decided not to participate in the 2016 Mid-America Trucking Show and have informed show management of this decision.”

“MATS is an important industry event, and because we believe the industry would benefit from a biennial schedule, we intend to participate in 2017,” he said.

Volvo’s sister company, Mack, has yet to announce whether it will exhibit next year at MATS. John Walsh, Mack vice president of marketing, said: “In order to make sure our efforts best meet the needs of our customers and bring the most return on our investment, we evaluate each trade show opportunity every year, a process through which we are still working.”

Paccar’s Peterbilt and Kenworth have not made any announcements regarding MATS 2016. Asked if Peterbilt Motors was still planning on exhibiting at MATS next year, a spokesperson said "the company is still evaluating its marketplace plans for 2016."

Toby Young, president of Exhibit Management Associates, which owns and operates MATS, said: “Navistar has informed us that they will not be exhibiting in the 2016 Mid-America Trucking Show and that they would like to return for the 2017 MATS. Navistar has been a strong supporter of MATS, participating every year since the first MATS in 1972. Their presence at the 2016 show will be missed."

"We will continue as planned with sales for the 2016 MATS beginning on July 15th and, given the recent news, additional exhibit space opportunities for returning and new exhibitors," Young said. "MATS has a contract with the City of Louisville and the Kentucky Exposition Center through 2020, so the show will continue on an annual basis as scheduled.”

MATS is an annual heavy-duty trucking industry event held each year at the Kentucky Expo Center in Louisville. The show attracts more than 70,000 attendees and more than 1,000 exhibitors.

The International Motor Show for commercial vehicles, or IAA, takes place every other year in September in Hannover, Germany.

[Red Horse]

And the beat goes on.... Have to wonder if the "Info overload" provided by the internet also contributes to this in addition to the cost associated with doing a quality show. Just think, (at least IMO)-25 or 30 years ago you waited for your new copy of HDT or Diesel Equipment Superintendent, or CCJ or Fleet Owner to see what was new. Today? Forget it. You have the news the day the new product is announced-nothing like seeing it in person, but it does not have the same impact it did years ago.