The reports quoted CEO and managing director Marc Llistosella of DICV as saying "We will start our market launch in the third quarter with introduction of three models. This will be followed by the launch of our entire product portfolio consisting of 17 models over next 20 months in 7 tons to 49 tons category." Besides setting up Daimler Financial Services, a captive financing arm, the company has tied up with HDFC Bank, ICICI bank and Sundaram Finance for truck financing, he added.
The reports said that the DICV's manufacturing facility near Chennai has attained 85 per cent localisation with 41 per cent coming from within 50 kilometre radius and 44 per cent from the rest of the country, Llistosella said. He added that exports from the Indian plant will begin in 2013 mainly to the regional countries but he refused to identify them. The reports also quoted VRV Sriprasad, vice president (marketing and sales and after sales), DICV as saying that in the first phase, the company will have a dealership network of 70 that will be extended to over 100 by 2014. "We are looking at becoming a significant player in the India truck industry in the short term. We are looking at minimum double-digit market share as soon as possible," Sriprasad said.
It was shared in the reports that the plant capacity of the company at present is 36,000 units per annum and can be expanded based on the requirement. Bharat Benz commercial vehicles will be manufactured at the new plant in Oragadam near Chennai. The 160-hectare facility will be put in to operation in April, and production trials of engines and transmissions have already begun. Although the plant's production capacity will initially be 36,000 units per year, it can be ramped up to 70,000 units.Automobile News
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