Volvo Trucks will not exhibit at next year’s Mid-America Trucking Show (MATS)—following Daimler Trucks North America as the second OEM to withdraw.
“We evaluate all our sales and marketing activities when we develop our business plan for the following year,” said Avery Vise, Volvo Trucks public relations manager. “As part of that effort, we have decided not to participate in the 2016 Mid-America Trucking Show and have informed show management of this decision.”
Vise added that Volvo believes the show “would benefit from a biennial calendar in the same way that IAA in Germany is held every second year.”
"MATS is an important industry event, and because we believe the industry would benefit from a biennial schedule, we intend to participate in 2017,” he said.
Toby Young, president of Exhibit management Associates, which owns and operates MATS, acknowledged in a statement that Volvo will not be exhibiting at MATS 2016, but that it would like to return in 2017.
“Volvo Trucks has been a strong supporter of MATS and their presence at the 2016 show will be missed,” Young said. “We knew there was a chance that other truck OEMs may follow DTNA's lead and that the most likely candidates were those that have a significant presence at IAA Commercial Vehicles. Less than 10% of MATS exhibitors participate in IAA Commercial Vehicles and we feel that many of the exhibitors we have in common will continue to support both shows and provide support for both markets in 2016.”
When asked if he felt other OEMs would follow suit and retreat from the 2016 show, Young said it’s still too early to tell.
“For us, we’ve had conversations with other OEMs and it’s a little bit early to hear from exhibiting companies to hear whether they are in or out,” he told Fleet Owner, adding that the sales process for the upcoming show doesn’t start until July 15.
“We will continue as planned with sales for the 2016 MATS beginning on July 15th for returning companies and we remain hopeful that the other OEMs and suppliers will have a presence at the 2016 MATS and will see this as an opportunity to improve their locations, possibly increase their presence at MATS, and take advantage of the absence of some of the other manufacturers,” Young said.
MATS is an annual heavy-duty trucking industry event held each year at the Kentucky Expo Center in Louisville. The show attracts more than 70,000 attendees and more than 1,000 exhibitors.
The International Motor Show for commercial vehicles, or IAA, takes place every other year in September in Hannover, Germany.