Showcases India-made trucks at IAA
At the previous edition of the IAA, in 2012, a red BharatBenz truck stood at the entrance of the Daimler pavilion, as it made its debut at the world’s largest commercial vehicle fair. This year, Daimler went few notches ahead by showcasing a new BharatBenz 3143 concept vehicle along with a FUSO FJ 2528 R left-hand drive version at the show, clearly signalling its unparalleled focus on the Asian market, and India in particular, as part of its Daimler Trucks Asia strategy and also reflects its endorsement of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ‘Make-in-India’ vision. The BharatBenz 3143 and the FUSO FJ 2528 R LHD have been designed and developed in India with a deep understanding of the needs of target customers, tailor-made to cater to the requirements of the domestic and export markets respectively.
Along with the two eye-catching trucks at the entrance of the pavilion was their bigger brother, a special edition Western Star truck, making the area one of the greatest crowd-pullers in the entire show. Inside the pavilion were showcased trucks and buses of Daimler’s other key brands, including Mercedes-Benz, Setra and FUSO.
Speaking to the media, Dr. Wolfgang Bernhard, member of the Board responsible for Daimler Trucks and Daimler Buses, observed: “India is a strategic market for Daimler Trucks globally. Its long-term market potential is intact. Our new products and our investments in new dealerships are proof of our long-term commitment to India. We will continue to expand our product line-up. By now, it should be clear that we intend to be a main player in the Indian CV market.”
The BharatBenz 3143 has been specially designed keeping in mind the extreme requirements of the Indian mining sector and is set to be launched in 2015. Developed after years of market research and with meticulously engineering, the BharatBenz 3143 will be built at Daimler’s Oragadam facility and sold in India, targeting the niche deep-mining segment, which is currently being catered to by premium deep-mining trucks from global players priced on the higher side. The vehicle is also being considered for export to markets such as Middle East and Africa.
What is interesting to know is that Daimler is not planning to stop with just the 3143, but is likely to unleash a whole new range of similar products, with company officials indicating that a new “family of trucks” will hit the market in future. Also on the cards is a series of tractors (pullers) from the same platform, likely to be launched by the end of 2015.
Sharing his views on the new products, Mr. Marc Llistosella, Senior Vice President, Marketing, Sales and Aftersales, Trucks Asia & DICV, also the main man behind the establishment of DICV and its strategy for the market, said: “It is highly imperative to have products suiting every requirement of every customer. We have established a solid base in India and Japan, and we are witnessing the change that it has made for Daimler in Asian and African markets. The new product from BharatBenz, the 3143 (Concept), will reinforce our commitment to the Indian truck market, and the new FUSO truck has been a great success in other markets since we rolled out. The company will continue to re-invent and address the markets innovatively.”
With the 3143, DICV is targeting a major share of the so-called premium mining segment in India, in which it also offers the high-end Mercedes Actros tipper, which would continue to be available for interested customers.
With high levels of localisation, the BharatBenz 3143 will offer the Indian mining truck owners a fantastic value proposition and higher return on investments. Developed on the existing HDT platform – the Mercedes-Benz Axor platform – it is the first 430 hp truck made in India, optimally engineered to meet the most demanding operating conditions at the mining sites. The 3143, internally named ‘Thunderbolt’ by DICV, has been built using aggregates and components such as transmissions, axles, frames and suspensions that have been carefully hand-picked to ensure the right performance to suit the intensive usage in mining applications.
The truck will first be available as a heavy-duty mining variant with short wheel base that meets the mining regulations of India. It is capable of carrying heavy loads of up to 48 tonnes, suitably crafted for Indian usage patterns. The 3143 comes with highly efficient equipment and operator controls that are aptly required for Indian operating conditions.
Mr. Erich Nesselhauf, Managing Director and CEO, DICV, added: “The Indian truck market is still witnessing the prolonged downturn. However, with our class-leading, highly reliable products, we have been gaining solid traction in the market. We are quite confident of strengthening our footprint further and penetrate deeper with the addition of these new products into the already available comprehensive product portfolio.”
The other class-leading product from India, the new FUSO FJ 2528R left-hand drive variant, is specifically designed to cater to the requirements of the export markets of DICV. The new FUSO trucks manufactured at the DICV plant in India were introduced in May 2013 and have been very well received in the export markets, effectively managed and distributed by the MFTBC network. The 2528R truck is highly efficient and homologated to meet the burgeoning needs of the customers in Asia and Africa. With the new left-hand drive truck, Daimler Trucks Asia will gain access to much wider markets like the Middle East, ASEAN and Latin America.
The new FUSO FJ showcased is a EURO 5 variant developed specifically for Latin America and other leading markets. The truck comes with (6X2) rigid application with a wider wheelbase of 4500 mm, a gross vehicle weight of 25 tonnes and engine power of 280 hp. With customized features and standard equipment the truck will offer better value for money for the customers. The new FUSO FJ, currently sold in Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Zimbabwe, Brunei, Zambia, Kenya and Tanzania, was commercially launched at the 22nd Indonesia Motor Show a month ago.
Daimler takes wraps off Future Truck 2025 In an exclusive event for the international press just before the IAA opening, Daimler took the wraps off its Future Truck 2025 (FT 2025), the world’s first autonomous driving truck. In what was an exciting night for the audience, Dr. Wolfgang Bernhard, Member of the Board responsible for Daimler Trucks and Daimler Buses, drove in the Future Truck into the arena in style, and addressed the gathering. “Tonight we are not showing you just the technology of the Future Truck, we are showing you the complete package – all features together, along with the stunning design. If technology is the heart of the Future Truck, design is its soul”, said Dr. Bernhard, and continued with a detailed presentation of the key features of the vehicle. Earlier this year, in July, Daimler had unveiled the vehicle, but only with a camouflaged face, to let the world know that self-driving trucks are a possibility and that the Daimler Future Truck could be running on roads by 2025.
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