Daimler Trucks makes India a global export hub for BS VI Trucks and Buses

• Builds on Daimler Trucks’ 8 years’ experience with BS VI-equivalent ‘EURO VI’;
• Additional INR 500 crore investment for2 million km of testing, and development of facilities and over 1000 new parts;
• Mr. Satyakam Arya, MD & CEO, Daimler India Commercial Vehicles, said, “Daimler’s experience of already bringing 1.4 Million EURO VItrucks and buses on the roadsmeans we are easily ready to transition our BharatBenz trucks and buses to BS VI by the April 2020 deadline. With this head start, we will begin exporting India-built trucks by 2021/2022.”

Chennai: Daimler India Commercial Vehicles (DICV) today showcased its readiness to transition to the new emission norms of Bharat Stage VI which will be effective from April 2020. Worldwide, Daimler has already sold over 1.4 million vehicles with EURO VI technology, an equivalent emissions standard. Additionally, DICV received certification for BS VI back in July 2019, proving they have successfully adapted their expertise with EURO VI to the Indian market.

(L to R) Pradeep Kumar, VP, Product Engineering; Satyakam Arya, MD & CEO; Rohit Bhan, Daimler Buses India; Dr.Robert Wodrick, Dailmer AG

Speaking at DICV’sBS VI sneak preview, Mr. Satyakam Arya, Managing Director & CEO, Daimler India Commercial Vehicles (DICV), said: “Daimler’s experience of already bringing 1.4 Million EURO VI trucks and buses on the roads means we are easily ready to transition our BharatBenz trucks and buses to BS VI by the April 2020 deadline. With this head start, we will begin exporting India-built trucks by 2021/2022.”

DICV invested around INR 500 crore to localize their EURO VI technology for India, completing 2 million kilometres of testing, developing new facilities and over 1000 new parts, and achieving an outstanding localization rate above 80% on its products. “The transition to BS VI opens up more opportunities to export fully-built vehicles, engines and parts to countries like Mexico, Chileand Brazil that will soon migrate to similar emission norms. This further strengthens India’s position as a global production network for Daimler Trucks and Buses,”Mr. Arya explained.

(L to R) Dr.Robert Wodrick, Dailmer AG; Rohit Bhan, Daimler Buses India; Satyakam Arya, MD & CEO; Pradeep Kumar, VP, Product Engineering

Depending on the availability of BS VI fuel in India, DICV will officially launch its upgraded range of BS VI trucks and buses in Q1 of 2020. DICV will begin exporting its OM926 engine series internationally by 2021/22. The DICV Oragadam plant which manufactures the vehicles is the only Daimler location worldwide which produces engines, transmissions, trucks and buses catering to four brands – BharatBenz, FUSO, Mercedes-Benz and Freightliner.

In addition to completing over 2 million kilometers of BS VI testing in varied geographies for BharatBenz Heavy Duty and Medium Duty Trucks, DICV is also gearing up its after-sales network with learnings from other markets. These competencies have been incorporated into training modules at its dealerships, which now spread across India with over 200 customer touchpoints nationwide.

About Daimler India Commercial Vehicles

Daimler India Commercial Vehicles (DICV), a wholly owned subsidiary of Daimler AG, Germany, is a full-fledged commercial vehicle player in the Indian market and the only Daimler entity worldwide with a brand dedicated to its home market: BharatBenz. DICV produces and sells in India above 9 to 55 tons trucks as well as BharatBenz buses, Mercedes-Benz coaches and bus chassis. DICV’s state-of-the-art manufacturing plant at Oragadam near Chennai spreads over 400 acres (160 hectares) including a highly modern test track and is home to the company’s headquarters, R&D and training operations. With one global quality standard, it also produces for Daimler Trucks’ brands of FUSO, Mercedes-Benz and Freightliner. Products and parts are exported to more than 50 markets in the Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Middle East. DICV represents an overall investment of more than INR 5,000 crores. 💥💥