ArvinMeritor executives last week predicted lower truck sales and a more challenging trucking industry in 2008, but “there is not all that much reason for gloom and doom,” said Carsten Reinhardt, senior vice president and president of commercial vehicle systems.
Reinhardt predicted that 2008 North American Class 8 truck sales will likely be between 220-240,000 units, with the first quarter under 50,000, the second in the range of 55,000, and the third and fourth quarters at 60,000 plus each. He believes medium trucks won’t be “quite as close to normal levels,” selling in the range of 165,000 units. Trailers may show a “slight up tick,” with sales totaling between 190,000 to 200,000 units, possibly even 210,000.
“There are some challenges in the industry right now,” said Chairman, CEO and President Chip McClure. “But we’re pleased with what we have done over the past few years. Changes we have made have allowed us to clearly move toward an extremely diverse product line. Two thirds of our business is commercial vehicle systems, but, fortunately, we have seen our business from a global perspective, with 50 percent of our business outside North America.
“We have the ultimate goal of having one third of our business in North America, one third in Europe, and one third in Asia and India.”
Over the past three years, ArvinMeritor has met or exceeded its goals to be more cost competitive and develop more new products, McClure said.
