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MOTORINDIA
l
August 2012
Trucks Asia expansion
With its Canter, Fighter and Super
Great truck models, the Fuso brand
has gained a reputation around the
world as a quality-focused truck
manufacturer whose products range
from light-duty models to heavy-
duty vehicles. Fuso is also Daim-
ler Trucks’ Center of Excellence
for light-duty trucks and cutting-
edge hybrid technology. Despite
challenges, Fuso managed to sell
147,700 vehicles in 2011, which
was actually five per cent more
than in the prior year. The Japanese
market accounted for 27,000 units,
representing an increase of nine per
cent.
In Eastern Europe, sales rose by
28 per cent. Another milestone was
registered in Russia where 2,000
vehicles were sold in 2011 (2010:
800). Trucks Asia’s unit sales rose
significantly also in the NAFTA re-
gion, up by a strong 16 per cent to
3,500 vehicles. In another important
development, it launched medium-
duty Fuso trucks in South Africa in
early October.
In RIC countries
Daimler Trucks is also enjoying
success in the RIC countries. In
Russia, for example, Fuso Kamaz
Trucks Rus has been manufactur-
ing Canter vehicles since 2010. The
official inauguration of the new
Mercedes-Benz Trucks Vostok pro-
duction line, which manufactures
Actros, Axor and Unimog models,
followed in early 2011.
Market outlook
Worldwide demand for medium
and heavy trucks in 2012 is expected
to be at least at the level of last year.
Despite a perceptible slowdown,
the North American market should
prove to be the world’s most impor-
tant driver of demand, expanding
by 15-20 per cent. Above all, in the
US, the sustained growth in invest-
ment and the increasing need for re-
placements due to the relatively old
fleet of vehicles should allow strong
growth in demand once again.
However, demand for trucks in
Europe will be impacted by the on-
vehicle zone
The truck plant in Chennai has been completed, and it has begun produc-
ing vehicles of the new BharatBenz brand. A major success for Daimler in
China last year was its receiving the final approval to establish a joint ven-
ture with Foton Motor. With its 50 per cent stake in Beijing Foton Daimler
Automotive Co., Ltd., it will further strengthen and expand its position in
medium- and heavy-duty trucks segment in the Chinese market.