International ProStar on track

Navistar Auspac says engineers both here in Australia and in the US are currently hard at work readying the International ProStar for its Australian release, with teams on both sides of the Pacific now engaged in a detailed component analysis of the model.

The ProStar will form the spearhead for International's much-anticipated return to the Australian market, with the aerodynamic truck to reach our shores in early 2016.

While the ProStar also forms the basis for the local Cat Trucks line-up, in International form it will be offered with Cummins power, giving customers a further on-highway option in addition to the C15-powered Cat.

According to Glen Sharman, Navistar Auspac Director of Sales, Marketing and Business Development, the Internatinal ProStar made a big impact at its Australian debut at the 2015 Brisbane Truck Show, and now Navistar engineers are doing all they can to ensure the model lives up to the fanfare.

"The level of response to ProStar and the International brand in general was overwhelming," he said.

"It certainly highlighted the passion and extent of International's connection to this market and there was no better stage than the Brisbane show to re-introduce the brand and present the Cummins-powered ProStar for the first time.

"Still, our effort at the truck show was just one of many steps in the process of rebuilding International's presence.

"From here on a major focus is confirming ProStar's engineering credentials for this market before it goes on sale early next year.

"ProStar is a top-selling truck in North America with a leading reputation for aerodynamic efficiency and reliable performance. As such, and with the added benefit of five years' experience in the Australian market with Cat-branded product, we have a great foundation to work from.

"However, Navistar both in the US and here is leaving nothing to chance when it comes to bringing International back to life in Australia."

Navistar Auspac Chief Engineer, Adrian Wright (pictured), said work was continuing apace to ready the International ProStar for the demands of the Australian market.

"This is certainly no quick 'tick the box' exercise," he said.

"Between now and ProStar's commercial availability next year, every component and assembly will be assessed, evaluated and ultimately validated for Australian conditions.

"At the same time we’ll be verifying the aerodynamics and fuel efficiency which are such big assets for ProStar in the US.

"So while dealership and service structures continue to be negotiated and developed, engineering appraisal and on-road testing of ProStar is now running at full throttle.

"It is a massive exercise and nothing is being assumed or taken for granted. Just because a particular part or assembly is successful in the US doesn't automatically mean it's qualified for our market. Numerous US brands have made that mistake and Navistar has no intention of becoming one of them."

Mr Wright said Navistar's fully integrated computer engineering system is being utilised to full effect, giving engineers here in Australia and in the US 'real time' communication as development of the model continues.

"It's a system which provides an incredibly effective engineering capability," he said.

"The information is so immediate you feel like you're in an office next to the engineering centre at head office in the US.

"The time benefit is extraordinary because it largely nullifies the time difference between Australia and the US, and results can be achieved very quickly."

Mr Wright said Navistar had the flexibility and the know-how to make its mark on the local market.

"Navistar may not yet be well known to Australian truck operators but it is a vast company with massive resources and engineering capability," he said.

"In fact, its engineering systems are as good as anything I've seen or worked with anywhere in the truck world.

"A real benefit for our market is that it's also a custom engineering system, even down to chassis drill holes for individual applications. There's plenty of flexibility in specifications, something that's becoming increasingly rare in the modern manufacturing world.

"So while Navistar is a giant corporation, it hasn't lost sight of the need for design flexibility in its products. For this market, that's a major asset."

Related reading:
International timeline revealed
New heads at Navistar Auspac
Inteview: Tim Quinlan, Navistar Auspac