FOUNDING LEGACY

Let us explore the Indian journey of the world’s oldest trucking brand, with Satyakam Arya, Managing Director and CEO of Daimler India Commercial Vehicles.

- PANCHAM BHARDWAJ

It is hard to have a conversation about trucks without mentioning the names of Gottlieb Daimler and Karl Benz. In fact, the entire industry revolving around internal combustion engines owes their prosperity to the mechanical ingenuity of these two men. Even though these contributions happened more than a century ago, their legacy lives on in the form of Daimler AG (formerly Daimler-Benz), one of the oldest and foremost automotive corporation, with dozens of brands thriving under its umbrella. We got a chance to focus on the India chapter of this story, with the person who is responsible for guiding the way forward. Edited excerpts follow...

Daimler is a company that is over a 100-years-old, with a presence in over 35 countries. Tell us about how India fits into the overall picture? When did you personally get involved with the company, and how has the business evolved since then?

Daimler India Commercial Vehicles (DICV) caters to the important Indian growth market with our dedicated brand BharatBenz, and also serves as a highly competitive export hub, delivering products to around 50 markets in four continents. We also leverage best-cost sourcing opportunities with our capable Indian supplier base for export of parts and provide shared services to other Daimler group companies. DICV is the only entity across Daimler producing four brands under one roof–BharatBenz, FUSO, Mercedes-Benz and Freightliner. The total investment of more than ₹5,500 crore, which Daimler has made in DICV, reflects the strategic relevance of our activities and the significant role we play within Daimler Trucks’ global operations.