Daimler’s ‘Made in India’ Buses to be Sold in the Middle East
Published On Sep 30, 2016
Daimler India is focusing on strengthening its export figures via exporting fully built buses to the Middle East before of the completion of this year and has thrown light on its plans of exporting Mercedes Benz school buses built in India to Middle East. The buses to be exported are said to be in the 9-tonne category.
Markus Villinger, Head of Daimler Buses India on the side lines of IAA Commercial Vehicles show, told reporters, "The 9-tonnes Mercedes-Benz branded school bus is meant to be sold in the GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) countries and this is our start of fully-built bus business from India."
Daimler plans to display these school buses in the Middle East by November-December 2016. The buses that are sold under the as BharatBenz in India, will be marketed under the brand name Mercedes-Benz in The Middle East.
On Daimler's expansion plan in India, Villinger said, "Right now, we have 9-tonne front engine chassis and beginning of next year we will start with 16-tonne front end chassis."
The company is also planning to sell buses and chassis to various Indian state governments in the near future. Villinger when probed on the same replied, "Next year, we are getting into business with state government undertakings and state governments. We will give fully built buses to the government."
Daimler India’s production plant in Oragadam, located near Chennai has resources sufficient to manufacture and roll out around 24,000 bus units every year. The company has already put in INR 4,400 crores in the truck manufacturing unit, and plans to invest INR 425 crores more in the bus plant. The production plant is spread over 400 acres.
DICV is a wholly-owned subsidiary that operates under Daimler AG. The commercial vehicle manufacturer is also planning to introduce a 16-tonne bus chassis next year in the Indian domestic market.
The rate at which Daimler is growing its operations in the subcontinent may look a little aggressive to experts but Daimler sure has recognized the potential India holds, when it comes to manufacturing, selling and exporting commercial vehicles in and from India.
