If this decade develops into the era of the electric vehicle, credit should go to innovators like Shane Terblanche who are helping to lead the way. Terblanche is the Vice President and General Manager for Navistar Electric Vehicles, one of the companies that became the face of President Obama's American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, and which holds the distinction of shipping the first electric vehicle produced as a result of that legislation. NAFA Fleet Management Association is proud to announce that Terblanche will provide a Keynote Address at the Association's 2011 Institute & Expo in Charlotte, NC, on Sunday, April 10.Terblanche has served as General Manager, Electric Vehicles at Navistar since 2009. With extensive background directing strategy, product and market planning, and new business initiatives, Terblanche led Navistar's efforts to bring the first electric-born delivery vehicle to market in North America. Terblanche, a native of South Africa who holds a BS in Mechanical Engineering from Technikon Witwatersrand (now the University of Johannesburg), joined Navistar in 2002 and has served in a variety of strategic marketing and product development functions prior to serving in his current position.
In August 2009, President Obama personally visited Navistar's manufacturing facility in Wakarusa, IN to announce a $39.2 million grant funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act and administered by the U.S. Department of Energy to develop and deploy electric trucks. Less than 10 months later, Terblanche was congratulated by Vice President Joe Biden for shipping the first electric vehicle produced as a result of the grants.
Terblanche joins Don Esmond, Senior Vice President of Automotive Operations for Toyota, and Joe Gibbs, Pro Football Hall of Fame coach and NASCAR racing team owner, as Keynote Speakers for the 2011 I&E. Esmond's Keynote Address is scheduled for Monday, April 11; Gibbs' address is scheduled April 12.
For more information on NAFA's 2011 I&E, please visit www.nafainstitute.org.