Daimler ships Chennai-made FUSO trucks to Indonesia

Indonesia is the key strategic market in Asia

Daimler India Commercial Vehicles Pvt. Ltd. (DICV), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Daimler AG, started shipping FUSO trucks to Indonesia. The company, along with Mitsubishi Fuso Truck and Bus Corporation (MFTBC), Japan, manufactures these products at the Oragadam facility near Chennai.

Indonesia is a key strategic market in Asia. With the new range of trucks, the company aims to fuel additional momentum in the market where FUSO has established itself as the leading commercial vehicle brand, according to a statement issued by the company.

The company claims FUSO is the market leader the heavy-duty truck segment in Indonesia, with a share of 45.4 per cent. In the light-duty truck segment (5-8 tonnes gross vehicle weight) served by Colt Diesel, the company had a market share of 53.1 per cent in 2013. The company has sold over 280,000 units in Indonesia across the light-medium and heavy duty segments.

"The new trucks are being developed to meet the ever demanding customer expectations in the growth markets, and to reinforce FUSO's leading presence in Asia and Africa," said the company.

The new FUSO trucks are also being sold in Kenya, Sri Lanka, Zambia, Tanzania, Zimbabwe, Bangladesh, and Brunei. They are now on their way to Indonesia, where the company's local distrubutor has already booked truck orders.

The company reached its one-millionth-sale milestone in 2013. It has been in the market since 1970. Mitsubishi Fuso products for Indonesia are distributed by P.T. Krama Yudha Tiga Berlian Motors (KTB). MFTBC holds 18 per cent of KTB shares.

"With a clear view on the growth potential in Asia and Africa, FUSO is in preparation to continuously add further markets to its strong market presence," said the company. Daimler Trucks Asia expects to gain additional growth momentum in the future markets on top of the current existing markets from its new Asia Business Model introduced in 2013. The new business model creates synergies by bundling the strengths of the Japan-based Mitsubishi Fuso Truck and Bus Corp. (MFTBC) and Daimler India Commercial Vehicles (DICV) under the Umbrella of Daimler Trucks Asia, it added.