DICV begins sales of medium-duty BharatBenz trucks

Chennai, February 20, 2013: Daimler India Commercial Vehicles (DICV) has begun sales of its medium-duty BharatBenz trucks based on the Fuso Canter platform. The 9-tonne Rigid (914: Rs 10.15 lakh for cab and chassis & Rs 10.66 lakh for fully built unit), 12-tonne Rigid (1214: Rs 11.11 lakh & Rs 11.62 lakh) and 12-tonne Construction (1217: Rs 11.75 lakh & Rs 13.58 lakh) LDT (Light-Duty Truck) range joins the heavy-duty models in the 25-31 tonne weight classes which have been on sale since September 2012. All prices are ex-showroom Chennai and include 14.5 percent VAT.

DICV has committed to bring a total of 17 new truck models of the BharatBenz brand on the Indian market by the year 2014. The 914 Rigid, 1214 Rigid and 1217 Tipper are based on the Fuso Fighter chassis and Canter cab.

“Our new medium-duty models will be setting new standards of efficiency and dynamics on Indian roads – in particular when rising fuel prices become an issue in India,” said Marc Llistosella, managing director and CEO of DICV (pictured), adding: “Our customers trust our reliable products. This is demonstrated by our sales successes for the heavy-duty Bharat-Benz trucks.”

The medium-duty trucks, which are used primarily for construction site and distribution transport and can be bought as a base for refrigeration installations, come with 4D34I engines with an output of 140hp or 170hp and are claimed to be at least 10 percent more fuel-efficient than other comparable products in the Indian market.

Dr Albert Kirchmann, president and CEO of Mitsubishi Fuso Truck and Bus Corporation, said: “India is an important growth market for Daimler Trucks next to China. That is why we are banking on well-established global product platforms that are tailored to the needs of the Indian market. Technically, the BharatBenz trucks are based on the same platform of Daimler Trucks as the well-known Fuso Canter model. Thus, the new BharatBenz models are fuel efficient and are additionally fitted to the difficult road conditions in India.”

Georg Weiberg, head (Product Engineering), Daimler Trucks, said: "We have involved German/Japanese engineers for their technology, experience and Indian engineers for their local expertise and and ability to create cost-conscious solutions."

DICV sells 1,098 HCVs till end-January 2013 In the five-month September 2012-January 2013 period, DICV has reported sales of 1,098 units of its three Heavy Duty Truck models. The manufacturer had launched its 25-tonne rigid, 25-tonne construction and 31-tonne construction models last year.

DICV’s manufacturing facility in Oragadam, Chennai had begun production of the Light Duty Trucks on October 3 last year. The Oragadam plant, that has a manufacturing capacity of 36,000 units (HDT and LDT together), is one of the most important facilities in the Daimler Group. It manufactures critical parts like engine, axles and suspension in-house and was inaugurated on April 18, 2012. DICV has achieved 85 percent localisation for the BharatBenz range.

In collaboration with local dealers from the passenger car and commercial vehicles area, DICV is currently building up a brand-exclusive BharatBenz dealer network throughout India. In the first phase, its trucks were sold and serviced over a network of 17 dealerships and cover 42 locations. This year, DICV says BharatBenz dealerships will be located in 108 locations across India. Daimler’s subsidiary Daimler Financial Services India offers financial services products and insurance solutions under the BharatBenz Financial brand, which are tailored specifically for dealers and customers.

KARTHIK H