FARMINGTON HILLS, Mich. (Nov. 15, 2016) —Dr. Wilfried Achenbach, senior vice president of engineering and technology for Daimler Trucks North America, will serve as keynote speaker at the 2017 Green Truck Summit on Tuesday, March 14. His address will offer insights into the technology, energy and environmental issues that will shape the future of the work truck industry, based on his experience in truck mechatronics, a multidisciplinary field of engineering that combines systems, mechanical, electrical, telecommunications, control and computer engineering.
The Green Truck Summit is the premier alternative fuels and advanced technology conference held annually in conjunction with The Work Truck Show®. Produced by NTEA – The Association for the Work Truck Industry, the 2017 Summit takes place March 14–16 at the Indiana Convention Center in Indianapolis, Indiana. Work Truck Show educational sessions begin March 14, and the exhibit hall is open March 15–17.
The Summit kicks off March 14 at 8:30 a.m. with opening remarks followed by Achenbach’s keynote address at 8:45 a.m. General sessions then run from 9:30 a.m.–5 p.m. Lunch is included, and a reception tops off the event from 5:15–6:15 p.m. Attendees can also choose from Green Truck Summit and Work Truck Show concurrent sessions March 15–16.
Achenbach is responsible for all product engineering and planning functions, including design, testing, styling, analysis and compliance. He is a member of Daimler Trucks North America’s Operating Committee, the thought leadership team that guides the company’s decisions regarding technological evolutions and developments to meet the future needs of customers and the environment. Fleet managers, truck dealers, equipment distributors, manufacturers and upfitters will benefit from his global perspective on how work trucks will evolve — in terms of technology, fuel and functionality — over the next 20 to 30 years, and how concepts evolve into actions to produce a reliable, production-ready vehicle.
“Being one of the handful of people in the world who sit in a position to influence the advancement of work truck technologies for the next several decades makes Dr. Achenbach a really interesting choice for keynote speaker this year,” said Doyle Sumrall, NTEA managing director. “Among other things, he has a solid vision of vehicle electrification that closely parallels this year’s Green Truck Summit theme of creating an impactful and efficient path to zero-emission commercial vehicles.”
Prior to joining Daimler Trucks North America, Achenbach was responsible for mechatronics systems for Daimler AG in Stuttgart, Germany, focusing on electrical and electronics development for the next generation of European trucks. Concurrently, he led the mechatronics group within the global Daimler Trucks development organization.
Before moving to Daimler Trucks, Achenbach held various positions within the passenger car division, focused on driving dynamics and driver assistance, also spending several years in a senior executive position at Chrysler. He earned a diploma in physics and a Ph.D. in nuclear physics at Johannes Gutenberg University in Mainz, Germany.
Following Achenbach’s address, Green Truck Summit attendees will participate in a variety of general sessions offering balanced perspectives from vocational truck and energy industry experts. For a schedule of sessions, visitworktruckshow.com/greentrucksummit.
The Green Truck Summit is a forum to highlight deployable and emerging zero-emission and near zero-emission technologies and fuels for multi-stage commercial vehicles. It offers resources and insights to fleet managers, truck manufacturers, dealers, distributors and service providers. In addition to participating in the educational conference, attendees can get technical and regulatory questions addressed by NTEA staff and get an up-close look at the newest clean-energy products in the Productivity and Fuels Pavilion on the exhibit floor.
The Work Truck Show features the latest vocational trucks, vans, vehicle components and equipment on a trade show floor covering more than 500,000 square feet. The event includes a robust educational conference with sessions on emerging national and global trends affecting the commercial truck industry, as well as strategies and technologies being developed in response.
Register for the Green Truck Summit and The Work Truck Show 2017 at worktruckshow.com or call 800-441-6832. Join the conversation on Facebook at facebook.com/TheWorkTruckShow and on Twitter at @WorkTruckShow with the official Work Truck Show hashtag #worktrucks17 and Green Truck Summit hashtag #greentrucks17.
ABOUT NTEA
Established in 1964, NTEA – The Association for the Work Truck Industry, represents 1,800 companies that manufacture, distribute, install, sell and repair commercial trucks, truck bodies, truck equipment, trailers and accessories. Buyers of work trucks and the major commercial truck chassis manufacturers also belong to the Association. NTEA provides in-depth technical information, education, and member programs and services, and produces The Work Truck Show. The Association maintains its administrative headquarters in suburban Detroit and government relations offices in Washington, DC, and Ottawa, Ontario.
