Chennai, April 2, 2013: Daimler India Commercial Vehicles (DICV) has announced the integration of the Mercedes-Benz Bus division with itself. DICV will now handle the marketing, sales and aftersales of Mercedes-Benz buses, which will continue to be assembled in the Mercedes-Benz India facility in Chakan, Pune.
Marc Llistosella, MD and CEO, DICV, said: “The alignment of the bus division with DICV is a logical step in integrating the commercial vehicle divisions of Daimler into one cohesive unit. This is in line with our global practice to ensure better synergies in various business verticals. With this alignment, Daimler will be able to expand its presence in India through a dealer network oriented and trained in the operations of commercial vehicles.”
Markus Villinger, head, Daimler Bus Division, India, said: “As the global leader in buses, Daimler sees India as a market with growing potential. However, the luxury coach segment is still very small in comparison to the total market. We will initially focus on this segment. The integration of the Daimler Bus division with DICV while creating greater synergies will also open several business opportunities in future.”
Eberhard Kern, MD and CEO, Mercedes-Benz India, commented, “We have nurtured the bus business since its launch in India and are happy that our sister company will take over this business and continue to offer superior products and brand experience to our customers.”
V R V Sriprasad, VP (marketing, sales & aftersales, DICV), added, “Mercedes-Benz India had introduced Mercedes-Benz buses in India in 2008. As DICV was still in a project phase and focused on the introduction of BharatBenz Trucks, we had to wait for an appropriate time for this integration. Our dealer network is now available in all initial markets and is fast expanding. With this, we are confident that we will be able to focus on our bus customers with the most appropriate service”.
The organisation for buses has been transferred to DICV and will now operate from DICV’s manufacturing plant at Oragadam, near Chennai. Mercedes-Benz buses will now be promoted using the growing network of BharatBenz dealerships. While the sale of the buses will be carried out directly by DICV, the service of these buses will be carried out by select dealers of BharatBenz.
All BharatBenz dealers have been planned with the capacity necessary to handle the bus business. However, initially only 7 dealers along with 2 other dealers who have been servicing Mercedes-Benz buses through Mercedes-Benz India will handle the service of buses.
KARTHIK H