NEW DELHI: Daimler, Commercial vehicle maker, has completed five years in the Indian market with the BharatBenz brand and also expanded its portfolio with the country’s first-ever Euro-V compliant special edition truck.
With the launch of its electric Fuso e-Canter truck in New York, the German truck maker has also shown interest in bringing its electric trucks to the Indian market.
Marc Llistosella, Head of Daimler Trucks Asia said that Daimler was exploring options of entering into a collaboration with the right partners in order to start a small series production in the future.
Meanwhile, its newly-launched special edition Euro V compliant medium-duty trucks will be matching the prices of existing BS-IV trucks. These will use the same fuel as BS-IV trucks and will improve the air quality in large polluted cities.
Daimler has already commenced work on the next emission roadmap – BS-VI, and Erich Nesselhauf, MD & CEO, Daimler India CV, said that globally Daimler has the technology for it and it has already started working on customising it for India a few years ago. “We have access to the technology so we don’t have to make further investments on it.”
The company has started working on BS-VI much earlier as engines have to be upgraded and every truck has to be homologated, which is a long-drawn out process.
These will use the same fuel as BS-IV trucks and will improve the air quality in large polluted cities. Pegged at number three in the heavy duty truck (HDT) segment, DICV is bullish of a promising growth over the next two years with the Indian market now on the road to recovery.
The CV market grew 23.22 per cent during August and 1.58 per cent during April-August 2017 with MHCVs accounting for 28.43 per cent in August and a de-growth of 13.6 per cent in April-August this year.
DICV is targeting a market share of 20 per cent by 2020 in HDTs from close to 10 per cent currently. Also attaining market leadership is on the radar in this segment pitted against established players like Tata Motors and Ashok Leyland.
In preparation for this growth, Daimler India kick started its second shift operations for HDTs this September with 800 workers.
Asked about how he visualises the Indian growth story in the MHCV market that is on the recovery path post-enforcement of BS-IV emission norms, Llistosella says, “The Indian market is not growing as it was forecast to grow and now it is in the level of 2 lakh HDTs.
In the above 9.5T, the past 3-4 months have indicated significant growth numbers and should grow over the next few years.”
The company has started working on BS-VI much earlier as engines have to be upgraded and every truck has to be homologated, which is a long-drawn out process.
This year, Daimler is eyeing substantial growth. The company’s Freightliner trucks will be launched in Mexico in November and are currently being shipped from Chennai.
(ET Auto)
