Enlarging presence in growing markets
The two commercial vehicle subsidiaries, Mitsubishi Fuso Truck and Bus Corporation (MFTBC) and Daimler India Commercial Vehicles (DICV), are working closely together under the umbrella of Daimler Trucks Asia. Their shared objective is to sell 290,000 units worldwide by 2020. The export markets in Asia and Africa are key growth drivers, which Daimler Trucks Asia is addressing with an extended product range. Since May 2013, the DICV production plant in Chennai is making five new FUSO truck models intended only for export.
“With Daimler Trucks Asia 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, Head of Daimler Trucks Asia and MFTBC President & CEO. “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.”
MFTBC is already present in more than 30 African markets. The MFTBC Kawasaki plant in Japan is supplying completely-built-up FUSO trucks as well as knocked-down kits to be assembled in various assembly sites in Africa to serve the markets there.
Further markets are planned to be added to the network with a view to unlocking the full sales potential in Africa. And soon the extended FUSO product range of robust, state-of-the-art trucks “made in India” will also be offered in selected African export markets such as Kenya and Zambia.
The East African country of Kenya is a promising export market for Daimler Trucks Asia, in which MFTBC is one of the biggest players. A partnership with the general distributor “Simba Colt Motors” in Nairobi has been in existence since 1968. Simba Colt Motors has a dealer network of a dozen local sales and service outlets, which will also be used for future sales of the FUSO trucks made in India. The market launch of the new FUSO trucks is planned for September 6 at Total Motor Show, East Africa’s largest motor show.
“FUSO trucks have a long tradition and are well established with the customers in Kenya. With the new FUSO trucks from India we will be able to offer customers a wider choice of products that are ideally suited for our demanding market conditions”, said AdilPopat, CEO of Simba Colt Motors confidently.
In Zambia “Southern Cross Motors”, with its registered office in Lusaka, has been active as sales partner for FUSO trucks since 2010. It will also be introducing the new FUSO vehicles from India with a solid, functional design as of September 26, 2013 to customers in two high-volume branch operations.
To further increase unit sales in Africa, Daimler Trucks is offering a broad product portfolio for different fields of application and is additionally building up the sales and service network on a continuous basis.
Daimler Trucks Asia
MFTBC and DICV work hand in hand under the umbrella of Daimler Trucks Asia. To bolster the presence in growth markets, the two companies are relying on an integrated product range for greater variant diversity and an optimized production network with the truck plants at Kawasaki in Japan and Chennai as main production locations.
Through the joint activities of MFTBC and DICV in the areas of product development, production and procurement, Daimler Trucks Asia is utilizing the strengths of both companies, which continue to operate as independent subsidiaries of Daimler AG.