US-based Navistar Global Operations Corporation, a leading manufacturer of trucks and engines, said it was expecting a double digit growth this year and a 15 per cent market share in the Middle East and North Africa region by 2015.

Navistar sees strong potential in the region’s commercial vehicles market and will pursue opportunities in Abu Dhabi, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia in 2010 to achieve the growth forecast, said a top official.

“While we are relatively new to the region, we have enjoyed success by associating ourselves with strong partners, including our UAE distributor, Emirates for American and European Cars,' said Navistar managing director Arshad Khan.

'We have a solid base of dealers across the region and are represented in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman, Jordan, Kuwait, Yemen, Lebanon and Iraq. We also have distributors in Egypt, Tunisia, Algeria and Morocco,' he added.

A market leader in the US for trucks and buses, Navistar, has invested heavily in truck and engine plants across the region, including a major plant in India, with production expected to commence this year.

Research is also underway for two further assembly plants in the region, said Khan.

With a solid distribution network in place, Navistar is now preparing to showcase their products to government departments and trucking companies at 'Commercial Vehicles Middle East,' the region’s first event for commercial vehicles, parts and services, to be held from March 9 to 11 in Dubai.

Taking place in the new Sheikh Saeed Halls at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre, the expo will attract fleet engineers, transport, fleet and logistic managers and senior representatives from every sector of the region’s road transport business, said Nick Webb, director of Streamline Marketing Group, event organisers.

Exhibitors from the US, Germany, Russia, China, Taiwan, Turkey and Iran will have a major presence at the show, highlighting the interest of international companies in the Middle East’s commercial vehicles industry.

“While 2009 was a tough year for the automotive industry as a whole, many international companies are optimistic that the region’s commercial vehicles sector will turn around in 2010, with major players capitalising on growing demand from the region’s private and public sector fleet managers,” he added.

The full range of commercial vehicles including buses, trucks, trailers, heavy and light commercial vehicles will be on display.

Running alongside the exhibition, the Commercial Vehicles Conference will address current risks being faced by businesses and ways for commercial vehicles operators to increase efficiency and reduce costs.

The two day conference from March 9 to 10 will be followed by specialised industry seminars and a series of certified, technical workshops organised with the support of international professional groups and regional government departments, Webb added.-TradeArabia News Service