Opinion: The one true International truck

Will we see IVECO selling the iconic International?

In 2015 the trumpets blared as loud as a Caesar’s Triumph in the streets of Rome. International, the real International, was returning to Australian shores.

We were treated to the eye candy of the Lonestar at the Brisbane Truck Show. The rumours were that the grumble of Cummins-powered International ProStars would be heard sooner rather than later. Next week; next month; next year…

Then we have IVECO. Since 1992 the Australian custodian of the International brand. And it is a brand with significant value, won particularly in agricultural areas and post-war intrastate transport.

The average punter can't be blamed for being a little confused with the Navistar relaunch of the International brand and IVECO's ongoing involvement. It has been easy to imagine a custody battle breaking out.

Since last year's flagging of the introduction of the new International trucks, the team at Navistar Auspac has been busy putting together the engineering specs for the new ProStar line. Of course the lessons learned with the Cat Trucks have fast tracked the Australian development of the new models. Work with the Cummins engineers has all but concluded in mounting the big engines and their cooling and emission management systems.

Without doubt, I believe the new International ProStars are ready to hit the Australian market. The rub lies in developing a parallel network of dealerships. The mining-minded Cat dealership has struggled with a big enough paradigm shift in taking on Cat Trucks. Taking on trucks with non-yellow engines is beyond the pale.

Navistar Auspac has been seeking dealers to develop such a network. But brother, it ain't easy in an oversupplied truck market.

And that is where the International ship lies, becalmed as a solution is sought.

IVECO Australia has a dealership/support network in place. Perhaps not always world's best practice, but it is a functional network that could be scrubbed up a little.

The Navistar and IVECO attitudes until now have been separate and independent.

But I can report that discussions are currently ongoing between Turin, Italy and Lisle, Illinois.

The outcome of these discussions are still in the air and nobody is saying anything. A working hypothesis is that while Navistar Auspac develops the engineering/build spec for the Australian models, IVECO Australia could supply the dealer network.

IVECO's parent company is CNH from Turin, Italy. Head of Corporate and External Affairs for CNH Industrial in Australia and New Zealand is Ron Grasso (pictured). I cut to the chase and asked him: "Are we likely to see IVECO Australia selling the International ProStar and other International trucks here in Australia?"

He paused, shuffled in his seat and said, "It's a possibility."

"A possibility or a probability?" I asked.

He grinned and said, "All I can tell you is that it's a possibility."

I called Glen Sharman, Director of Sales and marketing for Navistar Auspac and asked him the same question.

"We live in a world where anything is possible," he said with some circumspection.

I asked Ron Grasso how he would like to see IVECO in Australia in five years, if he had his druthers.

"Selling a high quality truck range with IVECO cabover models coming from Europe and International conventional models coming from North America. I would like to see our current dealerships double from its current 25 to 50."

Dragging out my somewhat worn and tired crystal ball, I see this as a likely scenario.

But then, we don't really know. Glen Sharman says he will be able to make a significant announcement by April.

Opinion: The one true International truck

Tags