Daimler unveils BharatBenz brand for its trucks in India

Daimler is not only the world’s largest manufacturer of medium and heavy-duty trucks above 6 tonnes, but it is the company that has pioneered many innovations in the commercial vehicle segment, including building the world’s first truck some 115 years ago. And now to cater specially to customers in India, Daimler has launched the new BharatBenz brand that will offer an entire range of trucks from 6 to 49 tonnes.

India’s economy has been growing over the last years and is estimated to grow between seven and eight percent in the next ten years. India has also become the second largest market in the world for medium- and heavy-duty trucks. By the way things are looking at the moment, the Indian truck industry will double by the year 2020. We will play a significant role in this leap. And with the launch of this new BharatBenz brand, Daimler looks all set to capitalize on this massive growth in the Indian truck market.

Dr. Dieter Zetsche, Chairman of the Board of Management of Daimler AG & Head of Mercedes-Benz Cars commented on the occasion “We are sending a clear message with our new truck brand: Daimler is at home in India. Our BharatBenz trucks are the right combination of Daimler’s DNA and India’s market know-how. These trucks will be developed and built in India, for India, and by specialist employees from India.” Marc Llistosella, Managing Director and CEO of Daimler India Commercial Vehicles, added “The BharatBenz product range will draw on Daimler Trucks’ entire range of technological expertise in order to best address the special needs of Indian customers. The product range in the Light-duty segment is based on the Fuso Canter tried-and-tested platform, while the heavy-duty range is based on one of our Mercedes-Benz trucks platform. With these platforms the trucks have been ideally tailored to the needs of our India’s customers”.

The company will roll out trucks in 2012 from its manufacturing facility at Oragadam, near Chennai.