For the first time, Daimler India Commercial Vehicles Pvt. Ltd. (DICV) with its exclusive brand –BharatBenz debuted at the Excon exhibition 2015 in Bengaluru. Excon is the largest construction equipment exhibition in South Asia. BharatBenz displayed 11 trucks from its construction & mining range of products including India’s first indigenized mining truck 3143 making an indelible mark at its first public fair in the country.
With the impetus on infrastructure projects, BharatBenz is set to transform the way of work in the construction and mining industry. BharatBenz 3143 is a natural progression towards high powered, cost efficient mining trucks that will bridge the gap in the industry that currently offers premium trucks and trucks that are underpowered. The truck is capable of operating in challenging terrains and can efficiently operate in deep mining conditions, making it an unbeatable value proposition. It comes with the trusted and proven OM 457 Mercedes-Benz engine, with a 12 litre capacity and six-cylinders delivering 430hp. The BharatBenz 3143 is available in two variants 19.5Cu.M rock body and 32Cu.M coal carrier. The key differentiator that BharatBenz offers in this segment is higher payload, better fuel efficiency and lower maintenance costs. In addition, the high localisation of the parts translates into a very high availability of spare parts.
India will increasingly play an important role in the global operations of Daimler. Not only is DICV exporting India-made trucks under the FUSO brand to 21 countries, it will also increase its market presence in 30 countries within the next two years. It has also already exported more than one million parts from its plant in Oragadam to Daimler entities in the world.
Commenting on the development, Erich Nesselhauf, Managing Director and CEO of Daimler India Commercial Vehicles said, “With top quality products from our world class factory in Oragadam, we have not only made a mark with our Indian and International customers, but also convinced other Daimler brands and entities to source parts from us and our supplier network. Our Indian operations will become more and more important for Daimler Trucks, with regards to sales volumes as well as parts and knowledge-transfer.
Addressing the media, Sominder Singh, Vice President, Domestic Sales, Product Management & Network of Daimler India Commercial Vehicles, said “Since its market launch in September 2012, BharatBenz has sold over 30,000 trucks .This shows the great acceptance that the brand BharatBenz has received in the market. We will continue to strengthen our presence and expand into northern market. Our tailor- made products will modernize the Indian trucking industry. With our participation at Excon, we demonstrate superior lineup for Construction and Mining, offering the widest range that cater to every requirement in the industry. ”
Under the umbrella of Daimler Trucks Asia, DICV and MFTBC (Mitsubishi Fuso Truck and Bus Corporation) have combined their strength to tap its sales potential further. Currently, DICV exports to 21 countries. While DICV focuses on the Indian market with its brand BharatBenz and caters to countries such as Nepal, that are similar to the Indian market conditions, MFTBC will service the rising demand in the Asian and African regions with its existing portfolio of Mitsubishi-Fuso trucks from its plant in Kawasaki and the robust Fuso trucks produced in Oragadam. Fuso today is a leader in Asia and the Middle East, with business in over 150 countries around the world.
