Navistar International Corp. Presents Navistar 4.0 Strategy

Navistar International Corporation will present the 2020-24 strategy, "Navistar 4.0," at its Investor Day event on September 19, laying out a plan to increase the company's EBITDA margins to 12%. 

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.

Building on the major advances achieved in the last 5 years, including gains from an alliance with TRATON Group, Navistar 4.0 lays out a clear path for the company's ongoing transformation.

"Navistar is committed to building on the gains of the past five years to improve financial returns to shareholders," said Troy A. Clarke, Navistar chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer. "Navistar 4.0 establishes a clear road map to grow EBITDA margins to 12%, while also winning in the marketplace."

Announces $250 Million Investment in New Manufacturing Plant

Building on the recently announced $125 million investment in the Huntsville engine plant, Navistar also intends to create the most cost-competitive manufacturing network in the industry. For this reason, as part of Navistar 4.0, the company separately announced its intent to invest more than $250 million in a new, industry benchmark assembly 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.

Procurement and Product Strategy Builds on Success of TRATON Alliance

Another contributor to Navistar's future improvement is the alliance with TRATON Group. Increased benefits from the two companies' procurement joint venture are achieved by leveraging global scale, ultimately through common powertrains and other systems.

"Our savings from the global alliance with TRATON are on track to yield $500 million in the first 5 years, with $200 million in annual savings by year five," said Walter Borst, Navistar's Chief Financial Officer.

Read more about the alliance with TRATON (formerly Volkswagen Truck & Bus).

Provides 2020 and 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

In addition, Navistar plans to grow EBITDA margin from the 8% currently anticipated for 2019 to 10% by 2022, and has laid out plans to achieve this result. Components of this improvement include higher revenues and market share through new product offerings and market segmentation initiatives; incremental product cost improvements in procurement and manufacturing through supply and logistics savings and lean manufacturing activities; and lower structural costs from active cost management and lower pension and OPEB costs.

12% EBITDA Margins Planned by 2024

The company plans to achieve EBITDA margins of 12% by 2024. Components of this additional improvement include development of integrated powertrain offerings, a single platform strategy, modular product design and optimization of the company's manufacturing footprint.

The company summed up its vision by citing unique opportunities:

• Its new product lineup, quality improvements and uptime focus are gaining market share.
• Gross margins will grow with the lower costs derived from the TRATON alliance and enhanced manufacturing strategy.
• Aftersales revenue will grow as market share gains add to the vehicle parc and integrated powertrains improve the parts mix.
• Substantial improvements in net income as free cash flow is used to pay down debt and fund pension plans.

"Navistar's recent improvements in both market share and financial returns are sustainable and will grow in the years ahead," Clarke said. "I believe Navistar is the best investment opportunity in the commercial vehicle space."