Volvo Group Australia has announced it won’t be at the Brisbane Truck Show next year citing the climate of uncertainty around the Covid 19 pandemic and the challenging business environment that has resulted from the crisis.
In a statement from Volvo Group the company says that the current climate of uncertainty regarding travelling across state borders and the possible rapid implementation of social restrictions has created a challenging environment for all businesses to operate within.
“This uncertainty coupled with the associated risks has affected events and exhibitions all around the world,” the statement continues.
“These events require considerable resources and forward visibility to plan and execute. The recurring impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our society continues to affect planned events and travel,” it added
“As a result Volvo Group Australia has reluctantly made the decision not to take part in the 2021 Brisbane Truck Show,” says Volvo.
The company says it is is ‘totally committed to supporting the Australian economy and the road transport industry’, and that it ‘looks forward to a time where we can showcase the best transport solutions and products our group has to offer, safely, and in person’.
T&B News understands that at least one other manufacturer is considering not exhibiting at the Brisbane Show due to the high cost of staging an exhibit and the ongoing uncertainty around large public gatherings like truck shows.
This is despite the fact that truck sales have been surprisingly buoyant in the face of other business downturns and reports from some truck makers that indicate forward orders in the final months of 2020 are strong and will mean truck sales for the year will not dip as deep as many believe.
However we understand that along with other ‘austerity’ measures at the Volvo Group in recent months including staff redundancies, sell down of excess stock and a reduction in marketing spend have been as a result of edicts from the company’s parent organisation in Sweden to reduce costs globally in order to prepare the organisation for the large expenditures needed to develop zero emission powertrains and other new technologies, including automation\.
T&B News. understands that the TIC promoted Melbourne Truck Expo might not proceed given the border closures and other Covid challenges.
Daimler Truck and Bus President and CEO, Daniel Whitehead said his company is fully committed to next year’s Brisbane Truck Show, which is such an important event for the Australian trucking community.
“We feel it is even more critical to engage with the men and women who keep Australia moving and support the local industry that we operate in during these challenging times,”
T&B News is told that Isuzu, will definitely be at the Brisbane Truck Show and is already well advanced with plans for the show including dinners and associated functions around the Truck Show.
Hino’s general manager for network and brand development, Bill Gillespie told us that the company had the Brisbane Show as part of its plan but that the company would be monitoring the situation over the coming months.
We have sought comment from other truck makers but we had not had any other responses at the time of going live with this story.
