Daimler to up market presence by 2014

Company has so far launched nine medium, heavy duty truck models in country; another three expected to be launched by year end

Daimler India Commercial Vehicles Pvt Ltd (DICV) is looking at expanding its presence to double its market presence and increase its product portfolio by 2014, as it derives positive cues from the the long term market scenario.

Speaking to reporters on completion of the first year of Bharat Benz trucks hitting Indian roads, Marc Llistosella, managing director and CEO, Daimler India Commercial Vehicles Pvt Ltd, said that the company has covered 45 per cent of the Indian market in terms of dealership and brought in 50 per cent of the product portfolio on the road in one year.

“We are planning to take this up and to have dealership coverage in 80 per cent of the market by 2014. In terms of portfolio, we will have 100 per cent by then,” he said.

The company has so far launched nine medium- and heavy-duty truck models in the country and another three are expected to be launched by the end of the year. It is also expecting to reach more than 120 dealership locations in 2014, he added. It has sold more than 5000 medium and heavy duty Bharat Benz trucks in India. Besides, Daimler is also planning to initially export to 15 countries in a step-by-step manner. The company has already exported trucks to Sri Lanka and Kenya and would be launched in Zambia on Friday.

The company would be exporting to various markets, starting from right-hand drive markets and expanding to the left-hand drive markets, he added. DICV exports its trucks under the brand Fuso. The integration between DICV and Mitsubishi Fuso Truck & Bus Corporation, Japan, has achieved the goal of making  quality trucks for India under the brand Bharat Benz and for other markets under the brand Fuso.

With the integration of the Mercedes-Benz Bus division with itself, DICV has started the after sales service of the company’s buses in its facilities, company officials said.