Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems is holding a virtual event that will include some of its new technologies this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic placing a temporary pause on live, on-site product demonstrations.

On Sept. 24, from 3 to 4 p.m. Eastern Time/noon to 1 p.m. Pacific Time, the company will host its Bendix Virtual School Bus Demo, a livestreamed event broadcast via satellite, according to a news release from the company.

The virtual demonstration will give school district officials, school bus dealers and distributors, and other school bus industry professionals a firsthand, live view of advanced safety systems in action.

Generating from northeastern Ohio, near Bendix’s Elyria headquarters the demo will take place as part of the Bus Technology Summit, a virtual conference and trade show presented by School Transportation News from Sept. 21 to 24.

The Bendix Virtual School Bus Demo will showcase a full range of the company’s integrated safety solutions for school buses, while giving participants a closeup look at how the technologies work in everyday situations. Attendees will experience in-bus and on-track views of real-time maneuvers, as the production will employ multiple camera angles, split screens, and replays, according to Bendix.

“2020 has been an unconventional year that requires unconventional thinking,” said Nicole Oreskovic, Bendix vice president of marketing, product planning, and sales operations. “At Bendix, we’re driven to create the best solutions; so even though we can’t host traditional demos at the moment, we still want to provide a firsthand, inside look at what our technologies can do for school bus fleets, drivers, and others across our industry.”

Oreskovic added that for further insight participants can join in view polls, live chat with Bendix specialists, and ask questions in real time.

Earlier in the day on Sept. 24, the company is also hosting the Bendix Virtual Trucking Demo, focusing on safety technologies for tractor-trailers.

The Bendix Virtual School Bus Demo is the company’s latest in a long-standing line of truck and school bus demonstrations designed to help the commercial vehicle industry experience the newest safety technologies. Since 2014, the Bendix demo team has traveled regularly to destinations around the U.S. and Canada, conducting some 400 demos for almost 7,000 participants.

By hosting the livestreamed demonstration, Bendix will provide an alternative to help school bus professionals see the technologies performed live while meeting the industry’s need to work remotely.

“With the virtual format, more fleets and drivers will have the opportunity to see the advanced technologies in action — not just those within the typical two-hour radius of a regional demonstration,” said Fred Andersky, Bendix director of demos, sales and service training. “No matter your location, you can participate and discover new solutions. We believe this dynamic new approach will be very appealing to everyone.”

Andersky added that Bendix will showcase new products that it is rolling out in the next three to six months in addition to current solutions.

The Bendix Virtual School Bus Demo will feature:

•    Bendix Wingman family of collision mitigation technologies, including Bendix Wingman Fusion and Bendix Wingman Advanced.
•    Bendix ESP full-stability system.
•    Bendix ADB22X air disc brakes.
•    Bendix Intellipark electronic parking brake.

Register to attend the Bendix Virtual School Bus Demo.