Redesigned Navistar Diesel Gets OK from EPA

Lisle, Ill.-based-based Navistar International Corp. said Tuesday (April 16) that it received federal approval for its big-bore diesel engines, according to a report by the Chicago Tribune.

“We’ve reached another milestone in our emissions strategy transition and are on track to deliver our first ProStar units with our SCR-based 13-liter engines at the end of April,” Jack Allen, Navistar executive vice president and COO, said in a statement.

Navistar spent more than $700 million over a decade designing a engine technology that failed to comply with 2010 federal emission standards. To sell the engines after the 2010 deadline, the company used emission credits and paid fines.

Last year, shortly after the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) nearly doubled the fines to about $4,000 per engine, Navistar decided to build an engine that combines its technology with that of competitor Cummins Inc. Under the deal with Cummins, Navistar also will outfit its trucks with 15-liter engines.

The partnership is part of the company’s plan to return to profitability by the end of the year. The plan also includes layoffs, selling business units and closing manufacturing plants.

“If I look back, it’s been a nearly three year journey to get certification,” said Basili Alukos, an analyst with Chicago-based Morningstar. “It’s a huge relief.”

Alukos said that while the company can focus on recouping market share, the slow pace of the economy is a concern for Navistar and other manufacturers. Navistar’s market share of heavy duty trucks was about 11% in the first quarter, down from estimates of 21 percent in 2011.

Navistar operates 18 plants in North America:  11 make and assemble trucks, buses and chassis; six build engines; and one makes rail cars.  Navistar also builds recreational vehicles through its Navistar RV subsidiary.

Navistar’s Allen Named as Executive VP, COO

Navistar International Corp. today (April 16) announced that its board has appointed Jack Allen as executive vice president and COO, effective immediately. Allen, 55, has been president of the company’s North America Truck and Parts business since June 2012.

“Jack is a results-focused leader with a deep understanding of the commercial truck industry and Navistar. He has successfully run nearly every important part of our business at one point during his 31-year career at the company,” said Troy Clarke, Navistar president and CEO, in a news release. “Together, Jack and I look forward to working with our experienced leadership team and talented group of employees as we take further steps to strengthen our North American core businesses, improve quality and customer satisfaction, drive future profitability, and deliver value to shareholders.”

Prior to his most recent assignment, Allen served as president, North America Truck since 2008. Previously, he was president of Navistar’s Engine Group, where he led major business initiatives including the acquisition of Brazilian engine producer MWM and a partnership with MAN of Germany. He also has served as vice president and general manager of the company’s parts organization.

Allen joined the company in 1981 as a design engineer. He holds a bachelor’s from the Milwaukee School of Engineering and an MBA from the Illinois Institute of Technology. He is a board member of The Valspar Corp. and also serves on the boards of the Milwaukee School of Engineering’s Corp. Council and Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago.

Suit Accuses Navistar of Misleading Investors

Navistar International Corp., its former CEO and the company’s CFO are being accused of misleading shareholders about a diesel engine technology that failed to meet 2010 federal emission standards, according to a Chicago Tribune report.

A lawsuit filed in federal court in Chicago alleges that former CEO Dan Ustian and CFO Andrew Cederoth continued to say that the company’s big bore diesel engines would meet federal emissions standards when they never did. As a result of his statements, the lawsuit alleges, Navistar common stock traded at “artificially inflated prices,” reaching a high of $70.17 in April 2011.

“When defendants revealed Navistar’s true financial condition and future business prospects, the price of Navistar common stock fell over 69% from its Class Period high,” according to the lawsuit.

The lawsuit was filed in March on behalf of Construction Workers Pension Trust Fund and “others similar situated” that purchased shares between November 3, 2010 and August 1, 2012. The pension trust fund purchased 6,709 shares of Navistar stock for a total of roughly $246,000 and sold them for about $165,000.

During that same period, the lawsuit alleges, Ustian sold 55,469 shares for nearly $3.9 million and Cederoth sold 9,548 shares for $642,962.

A company spokesman said Navistar does not comment on pending litigation.

Navistar’s Clarke Talks of Change, Opportunity

In his first official outing as Navistar International’s new CEO, Troy Clarke jumped right in Friday (March 22) morning by assuring the audience of supplier executives that “Navistar’s not going anywhere but up,” according to a report by TrukcingInfo.com.

“Recently we have come through some challenging issues,” he said, referring to problems such as the company’s financial losses and its failed attempt to meet 2010 emissions regulations without using selective catalytic reduction. “But if I can paraphrase Mark Twain, the rumors of our demise have been greatly exaggerated. We are moving ahead with renewed dedication and resolve.”

Clarke’s speech drew one of the largest crowds the Heavy Duty Manufacturers Association has ever had for its annual Breakfast Briefing at the Mid-America Trucking Show.

Moving on to broader issues, Clarke outlined four of the top issues that will affect where the trucking industry manufacturer and supplier business will be focusing its efforts: The price of fuel, the driver shortage, regulations, and economic-driven changes among carriers.

“We’re gathered on the biggest stage of the trucking industry, the Mid America Trucking Show,” Clarke said.

While uncertainty characterizes the external climate the industry operates in, he said, including such issues as sequestration and regulation, “We can only blame Washington for so much. No industry is immune from change. In fact, change is the only constant we can count on. We succeed by turning uncertainty and the need for change into opportunity.”

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Navistar Rolls Out SCR-Equipped Truck Series

Navistar International Corp. showcased its initial production build of the International ProStar truck equipped with MaxxForce 13 with SCR today (March 20) at the 2013 Mid-America Trucking Show. According to a press release, the company has announced that customer deliveries are beginning next month.

“This signals yet another key milestone in our operating plan and further demonstrates our commitment to delivering value for our customers,” said Jack Allen, president North America Truck and Parts, Navistar. “Our customers are the focal point of everything we do, and this technology was implemented with their needs top-of-mind.”

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, states the release. 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 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 (CGI) block construction 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 lb-ft. of torque and the engine delivers excellent fuel economy and performance.

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

 

 

 

AMP Finalizes Workhorse Chassis Acquisition

AMP Holding Inc., through a newly formed subsidiary, Amp Trucks Inc., has completed the acquisition of the Workhorse brand, logo, IP, patents and assembly plant from Workhorse Custom Chassis LLC, a wholly owned affiliate of Navistar International Corp. and has today (March 14) taken possession of the assembly plant.

The Union City, Ind., assembly plant has the capacity to produce up to 30,000 chassis per year. AMP plans to produce step-ans and other vehicle types for the North American medium-duty, commercial truck market at the facility.

AMP will manufacture its all-electric Workhorse chassis along with gasoline-powered, and alternative-fuel powered models and will be sold and supported through the existing Workhorse network of 440 dealers. This acquisition positions AMP as the first truck OEM in the United States to offer medium-duty commercial-grade electric, gasoline, propane, hybrid and CNG vehicles.

AMP Chairman Jim Taylor said, “We look forward to owning Workhorse, a highly respected brand, and having the opportunity to install our electric power train in a well-proven chassis and, at the same time, continuing to satisfy the needs of long-standing Workhorse customers.”

Report: Navistar’s Shares Soar on CEO Switch

Navistar Reports 1Q Loss; Clarke Named CEO

Navistar International Corp. today (March 7) announced a first quarter net loss of $123 million, or $1.53 per diluted share, compared to a net loss of $153 million, or $2.19 per diluted share, a year ago. Sales during the period totaled $2.6 billion versus $3 billion in the year ago quarter.

Excluding discontinued operations, Navistar recorded a first quarter loss from continuing operations of $114 million, or $1.42 per diluted share, compared to a first quarter 2012 loss from continuing operations of $144 million, or $2.06 per diluted share. The Lisle, Ill.-based company builds RVs through its Navistar RV division.

In a separate announcement, Navistar reported that its board appointed Troy A. Clarke as president and CEO, effective April 15. Clarke, currently the company’s president and COO, will also join the board. At the same time, Lewis B. Campbell, who has served as executive chairman and interim CEO since August 2012, will step down from those positions and from the board. James H. Keyes, who has served as a board member since 2002, will become non-executive chairman, also effective April 15.

The company reported year-over-year EBITDA increased $163 million mainly due to $109 million in lower warranty adjustments and $70 million in reduced SG&A expenses, partially offset by lower volumes. Manufacturing revenues in the quarter were $2.6 billion, down 12 percent from the first quarter of 2012. The decline was reflective of lower overall industry demand and lower market share resulting from the company’s clean engine strategy transition.

“We are beginning to see concrete progress on each of our near-term priorities – improving our quality, launching our new SCR engine programs on schedule and delivering on our 2013 operating plan, which will put us on a path to profitability. Although we reported a first quarter loss, we believe we made solid progress in the first quarter toward these goals,” said Campbell. “That progress includes submitting our 13-liter SCR engine for certification ahead of schedule, kicking off of pilot production for ProStar+ vehicles with the 13-liter SCR engine earlier this week, strengthening our quality performance and effectively managing things that we can control. These include aggressively managing inventories and significantly reducing discretionary spending enterprisewide.”

The company finished the first quarter with $1.19 billion in manufacturing cash and marketable securities, exceeding its cash guidance range of $950 million to $1.05 billion. Contributing factors included improvements in net working capital, delayed capital expenditures and better than expected structural costs.

“In order to move forward on our path to profitability, we recognize the need to do even more given current industry volumes and our short-term market share outlook in North America,” said Campbell. “We believe our market share will begin to improve in the second half of 2013 with the full launch of our clean engine lineup. And while we are already on track to exceed our goal of reducing structural costs by $175 million this year, we recently launched a benchmarking initiative that has already identified additional cost savings to further lower our breakeven point in 2013.”

The company also continues to make progress on its return on invested capital (ROIC) initiatives. Already in the second quarter, Navistar completed the sale of its equity interests in its India truck and engine joint ventures; completed the sale of its Workhorse Custom Chassis brand; and subleased a portion of its Cherokee, Alabama manufacturing facility to a railcar manufacturing company.

Navistar’s manufacturing cash guidance for the end of the second quarter ranges from $1 billion to $1.1 billion.

Navistar Debuts New 4X4 at Work Truck Show

Navistar International Corp. unveiled its International TerraStar 4×4 commercial truck — one of the company’s newest additions to its comprehensive Class 5-8 product portfolio — at the National Truck Equipment Association (NTEA) Work Truck Show at the Indiana Convention Center in Indianapolis.

Launched in 2010 in a 4×2 configuration, the International TerraStar offers truck buyers a wide range of commercial duty features not offered in other trucks, according to a press release.

“The TerraStar is the smaller sibling to the DuraStar, the best selling medium-duty model throughout the past two decades, leveraging the same platform and commercial grade components,” said Jack Allen, Navistar’s president, North American Truck and Parts. “The TerraStar shares the same rugged, durable and hardworking DNA, making it in a class unto itself. The TerraStar 4×4 will deliver additional commercial duty capability for a wide range of customer needs, including construction, utility, landscape, and other off-highway applications.”

At the heart of the TerraStar 4×4 is its 300 horsepower, 6.8-liter V-8 engine, delivering 660 lb.-ft. torque. This engine features a compacted graphite iron (CGI) block which offers high strength without added weight.

With 38% more visibility and 30% more cab interior space than the competition, the TerraStar also offers outstanding maneuverability in even the tightest work environments. In addition, the commercial grade TerraStar cab, available in extended cab or crew cab configurations, is designed to be more durable than the competition and is constructed with double-sided, galvanized high-strength steel protected by a five-step professional grade coating process to resist corrosion.

Navistar CEO Says New Engine Will Drive Sales

Navistar International Corp. Chairman and CEO Lewis Campbell predicted the damage to the commercial truck marker’s share of the North American market will be short-lived, as Navistar moves away from a failed strategy for treating engine exhaust.

MarketWatch reported that Navistar’s average share of the heavy-duty truck market in the 12 months to the end of January was about 16.5%, down from about 21% in 2011, according to industry estimates. Campbell expects Navistar to regain the lost ground during 2014 with a revamped line of engines. Navistar, which builds recreational vehicles through its Navistar RV division, is the third-largest seller of heavy-duty trucks in North America behind Daimler AG’s Freightliner brand and Paccar Inc., maker of Peterbilt and Kenworth trucks.

Campbell anticipates the company’s 13-liter engines featuring an exhaust-treatment system built by Cummins Inc. will be a hit with buyers once the truck operators become familiar with the engines. The 13-liter engine is the centerpiece of the company’s large diesel engine lineup. Moreover, he said demand for Navistar’s International brand trucks should receive a boost from the completion of warranty-related engine repairs that have dogged heavy-duty trucks sold since 2010. Campbell said warranty claims this year will be significantly less than in 2012, adding that no new problems have been discovered.

“Once we get all those trucks converted, I think you’ll be surprised at how quickly we regain share,” Campbell said during an interview Tuesday (Feb. 19) with Dow Jones Newswires following the company’s annual shareholders’ meeting near Chicago.

Navistar is waiting for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to certify that the company’s 13-liter engines meet the agency’s latest standard for reducing smog-causing nitrogen oxide in diesel-engine exhaust. Navistar submitted its 13-liter engine for certification in early January. Campbell said the evaluation remains under way and reiterated his earlier forecasts that the certified engine could reach the market slightly ahead of schedule in late March.

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