Daimler, automakers, 2064 exhibitors unfold global strategies
Global attention will be shifting to the IAA Commercial Vehicles massive exhibition ground in Hannover, federal republic of Germany as automakers go for broke in their quest to bring to showcase to the public the latest from their assembly plant.
The IAA Commercial Vehicles has never been more international than it is this year. A total of 2,064 exhibitors from 45 countries will be represented on the trade fair grounds in Hannover, and for the first time the proportion of foreign exhibitors has almost reached 60 percent.
The 65th IAA Commercial Vehicles is organised by the VDA and will run from 25 September to 2 October 2014. Under the slogan “Driving the future”, it will present numerous worlds, European and German premieres along with a large number of specialist events and special shows.
This year’s historic event is being attended by many franchisees drawn from many countries including Weststar Associates Nigeria Limited, sole representatives of all new Mercedes-Benz product lines in the country.
Weststar Associates with Mirko Plath as the company’s managing director also sponsor motoring journalists from Nigeria annually to major exhibitions and motor shows as a way of bringing to the front burner information for local consumers and some of the emerging developments within the automotive world in general and Mercedes-Benz brand in particular.
This bi-annual event shows that the IAA is the world’s leading trade fair for transport, mobility and logistics. The programme of events also reflects the international character of the exhibition. For example, it includes specialist congresses on China, India and Turkey, plus a symposium on foreign trade promotion and development cooperation.
For instance, China is the most promising market for trucks manufacture as more than one in three commercial vehicles sold anywhere in the world is sold in that world’s most populous country. The special dynamic nature of the Chinese market will be examined at the IAA China Day. The event is
Traditionally run by the German Association of the Automotive Industry (VDA).
But this year for the first time, it is being organised in cooperation with the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade, Automotive Sub-council (CCPIT Auto). The discussion and networking forum for representatives of industry, business and politics will welcome high-calibre speakers who will present an overview of the current state of the Chinese market and explore future developments. The event will take place Friday, 26 September, 2014.
During the event, chief executives of leading truck makers will be playing host to the automotive journalists including BusinessDay Nigeria, and they will unfold latest developments in their operations during the period. They will be joining forces to explain to the world what they are doing to reduce carbon-dioxide emissions from commercial vehicles industry recommendations.
The big wigs includes Wolfgang Bernhard, CEO of Daimler Trucks and president of ACEA’s Commercial Vehicle Board, who will host this press summit where together with some of his fellow CEOs, he will deliver a presentation on behalf of all ACEA’s commercial vehicle members: DAF Trucks, Daimler Trucks, IVECO, MAN Truck & Bus, Scania, Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles and Volvo Group.
During this presentation, the commercial vehicle industry will report on its current status in reducing fuel consumption from heavy-duty trucks. It will also make clear recommendations for strengthening the reduction potential, reporting on the findings of an independent study on greenhouse gas reduction measures for the road freight transport sector.
MIKE OCHONMA