Navistar International Corp. presented its 2020-24 strategy, “Navistar 4.0,” at its Investor Day event Sept. 19, laying out a plan to increase the company’s earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) margins to 12%.
The company says Navistar 4.0 includes the following elements:
- Improve EBITDA margins to 10% by 2022 and 12% by 2024;
- Grow market share and become the number one choice of the customer through new product offerings and customer segmentation;
- Implement a single platform strategy to optimize use of R&D resources and commonization of parts and tooling;
- Increase modular design resulting in customer benefits, speed to market and lower product costs;
- Build a new truck assembly facility in San Antonio, Texas, reducing logistics and manufacturing costs;
- Use the Traton alliance to provide significant procurement savings, more efficient R&D spend and new integrated powertrain offerings for customers;
- Grow aftersales revenues with an expanding distribution network, growing private label sales and e-commerce initiatives;
- Improve financial results allowing the company to invest in growth initiatives, de-lever the balance sheet and fully fund its defined benefit pension plans by 2025.
Investment in new manufacturing plant
Building on the recently announced $125 million investment in its Huntsville engine plant, the company separately announced its intent to invest more than $250 million in a new facility in San Antonio, Texas, contingent on incentive approval.
“The new facility will have the flexibility to build Class 6-8 trucks incorporating the most advanced lean manufacturing practices, enabling lower conversion costs and an optimized supply chain,” said Persio Lisboa, Navistar’s chief operating officer.
Building on Traton alliance
Navistar said another contributor to its future is the alliance with Traton Group.
“Our savings from the global alliance with Traton are on track to yield $500 million in the first five years, with $200 million in annual savings by year five,” said Walter Borst, Navistar’s chief financial officer.
Longer-term financial guidance
In its presentation, Navistar also provided industry and company financial guidance for 2020, including:
- Industry retail deliveries of Class 6-8 trucks and buses in the United States and Canada are forecast to be between 335,000 and 365,000 units;
- Revenues are expected to be between $10.0 billion and $10.5 billion;
- Adjusted EBITDA is expected to be $775 million to $825 million;
- Manufacturing free cash flow is expected to be breakeven excluding changes in working capital.
