Exports Drive Dicv to Profit

Daimler India Commercial Vehicles (DICV), the wholly-owned subsidiary of Daimler AG, and the makers of BharatBenz heavy-duty trucks, since 2013, expects to break-even this year, mainly supported by exports.

- Anusha B

“Though the commercial vehicle industry growth in the domestic market was not commendable last year, we are able to offset it with exports. Our path is promising and we expect to break-even this year and from 2018, we will be able to make profits in the domestic market,” Marc Llistostella, President and CEO, Mitsubishi Fuso Truck and Bus Corporation (MFTBC) and Head of Daimler Trucks Asia said.

Exports of DICV had increased to 4500 units in 2016 from 2100 in 2015. So far it has exported 7500 trucks to over 30 markets. Exports of parts from DICV’s extensive Indian supplier base to other Daimler entities in Japan, Europe, North America and Brazil, have crossed 35 million.

In the domestic market, the company had a degrowth of 7% and the total trucks sold were at 13,081 units in 2016, compared to 13,997 units in 2015. Including these, there are 40,000 BharatBenz trucks plying on the Indian roads.

“Our India operation is the cornerstone of our success at Daimler Trucks Asia. With the launch of a third product line for exports, we will enter the next stage in the strategic collaboration of DICV and MFTBC. DICV will start production of this new series of trucks, the sub-9 tonne vehicles, shortly. Initially they are for exports as FUSO brand variants. The first customer vehicles will roll out in the first half of the year,” Llistostella said.