Daimler India to start exports of FUSO trucks from June

German automobile major Daimler AG will start exports of FUSO range of trucks - belonging to Japanese Mitsubishi FUSO Truck and Bus Corporation (MFTBC) - to Sri Lanka out of its plant near here from June, said a senior official near here Thursday.

Daimler India Commercial Vehicles Pvt Ltd, the Indian subsidiary of German automobile maker Daimler AG, Thursday rolled out FUSO range of trucks from its plant near here to be launched in 15 markets in Asia and Africa.

"The FUSO range of trucks made in India is only for exports. Sri Lanka will be first export market for the trucks. This year we will export around 1,000 trucks out of India. The Indian plant has enough capacity to cater to the Indian and export markets," Albert Kirchmann, head-Daimler Trucks Asia and president and CEO MFTBC, told reporters.

According to him, the intergrated Asia business model draws on the synergies of two Daimler outfits - DICV and MFTBC.

He said the new business model for Asia will enable Daimler AG to unlock full potential among the two firms.

The trucks rolled out of DICV's plant- DICV's BharatBenz and FUSO- have local content upto 90 percent, said Marc Llistosella, managing director at DICV.

"Daimler's Asia strategy is not to counter balance the excess capacity in India. We are leveraging existing production network for global market," he said.

Speaking to IANS, Kai-Uwe Seidenfuss, member of the board and senior vice president sales and after sales at MFTBC, said: "The initial plan is to roll out trucks out of DICV's plant here. As of now there are no plans to roll out buses."

Kirchmann said the combined target of MFTBC and DICV is to double annual sales to 290,000 units by 2020 while declining to give any breakup of figures between the two entitites.

The FUSO trucks range manufactured at DICV's plant here comprise of five models spanning medium/heavy duty (25-49 ton) and light/medium duty (9-16 ton).

After Sri Lanka, the FUSO trucks will be exported to Bangladesh, Zambia, Kenya and Brunei this year.

Apart from rolling of FUSO trucks out DICV's plant, Daimler has chalked out an integrated Asia research and development (R&D) plan leveraging DICV and Mercedes-Benz Research and Development India (MBRDI) operations.