Daimler Trucks continues to expand its presence in new growth markets

• Daimler Trucks Bundles Asia Business for Further Growth
• The “Asia Business Model” will tap into the full synergy potential of Mitsubishi Fuso Truck and Bus Corporation (MFTBC) and Daimler India Commercial Vehicles (DICV)
• Kawasaki and Chennai plants positioned as important Daimler Trucks production locations in Asia
• From 2nd quarter 2013 Daimler will produce FUSO trucks in Chennai for export markets in Asia and Africa

13-5-2013 — /europawire.eu/ — The future new growth markets are already a reality for Daimler´s Commercial Vehicles division. Daimler Trucks has set the course for further growth in promising markets in Asia and Africa with its integrated business model “Asia Business Model”. The model, which is an integral component of the Global Excellence Program“Daimler Trucks Number One”, provides for stronger bundling and optimization of Daimler´s business operations in the region of Asia, and the related systematic expansion of its presence.

Concretely, Daimler profits from the global positioning of the subsidiaries Mitsubishi Fuso Truck and Bus Corporation (MFTBC) headquartered in Kawasaki, Japan, and Daimler India Commercial Vehicles Pvt. Ltd. (DICV) based in Chennai, India. With synergies from both companies, Daimler will begin manufacturing robust trucks in Chennai under the established FUSO brand for distribution and sales in export markets as early as in the second quarter of 2013. Daimler will be presenting the extended commercial vehicles portfolio shortly.

The “Asia Business Model” already in place is designed to secure Daimler Trucks´ leadership position in the new growth markets by leveraging strengths of MFTBC and DICV to pull in further unit sales increases in Asia and Africa. The Asian business will thus contribute significantly to Daimler Trucks´ sales target of over 500,000 units sold in the year 2015 and 700,000 trucks in the year 2020.
“With the Asia Business Model we are bringing our operations to the next level in order to support our existing and new customers with the right products and the best service in Asia and Africa,” underscored Dr. Albert Kirchmann, MFTBC President & CEO and Head of Daimler Trucks Asia. “With the united forces of MFTBC and DICV, we are very well positioned and moving ahead of our competitors in terms of bringing concepts into reality.”

Marc Llistosella, DICV Managing Director & CEO, said: “Our `Quality Made in India´ has been successfully proven with the milestone of over 1,000 BharatBenz trucks sold in three months since its launch. Now, we will start the production of BharatBenz and FUSO trucks under one roof – BharatBenz vehicles for the Indian market and FUSO vehicles for selected export markets.”

“With the combined strengths of MFTBC and DICV, we are ready for additional growth and efficiency,” said Kai-Uwe Seidenfuss, MFTBC Senior Vice President of Sales & After Sales. “It is an unique opportunity to offer an extended FUSO product portfolio of modern, robust, and economical trucks – thus capturing increasing customer demand in Asia and Africa.”

Strong positioning in Asia and Africa
The global production network of Daimler Trucks facilitates efficient business operations and profitable growth. The integrated Asia Business Model draws on a multitude of synergies of the two Daimler subsidiaries MFTBC and DICV. Accordingly, the BharatBenz trucks and the new FUSO trucks produced for selected export markets are based on the same Daimler Trucks technical product platform. Therefore, MFTBC and DICV will co-operate even more closely in the fields of product development and production. Daimler is thus creating optimum conditions for conquering additional future growth markets with the Japanese subsidiary MFTBC.

In Indonesia, MFTBC´s largest export market, the company has sold 68,000 units in 2012, posting sales record for the third consecutive year, and marking a double-digit growth over the previous year.

Sales were also up in other Asia stronghold markets, such as in Taiwan, the company´s second largest export market, in Malaysia, and in Thailand. In Africa, the Daimler subsidiary grew its unit sales by a formidable 88.7% to over 8,000 vehicles. With the “Asia Business Model”, Daimler Trucks will tap into even greater growth potential.

About Mitsubishi Fuso Truck and Bus Corporation (MFTBC)
The Mitsubishi Fuso Truck and Bus Corporation (MFTBC), headquartered in Kawasaki, Japan, is one of the leading commercial vehicle manufacturers in Asia. The company produces and sells light-duty, medium-duty and heavy-duty trucks and buses. Daimler AG holds 89.29% of the shares in MFTBC. The remaining 10.71% are held by various companies of the Mitsubishi Group. MFTBC is part of the Daimler Trucks business division of Daimler AG.

About Daimler India Commercial Vehicles Pvt. Ltd. (DICV)
DICV is a wholly owned subsidiary of Daimler AG and has been producing trucks for the “modern domestic segment” since 2012. DICV is gearing up for the rising demand for modern trucks for the volume segment in India. The products are closely aligned to the requirements of the important customer segments, which range from individual business drivers through to the largest fleet operators.

Your Media Contact

Simonette Illi
Business Communications Commercial Vehicles
International Business Operations
Fuso, DTNA and Mercedes-Benz do Brasil

Phone: +49 (0)711 17-83326
Fax: +49 (0)711 17-52006
Uta Leitner
Head of Global Business Communications
Daimler Commercial Vehicles

Phone: +49 (0)711-17-41526
Fax: +49 (0)711-17-52006
Heinz Gottwick
Head of Global Communications Daimler Commercial Vehicles

Phone: +49 (0)711 17 41525
Fax: +49 (0)711 17 52006