Within months of opening a Regional Centre for Commercial Vehicles in Dubai (responsible for Middle East and North Africa), Daimler Trucks has followed up a regional centre in Nairobi, Kenya and in Pretoria, South Africa.
Regional centres take charge of sales and service of Daimler brands in 41 East, Central and West African, and 9 markets of Southern Africa. The regional setup aids Daimler Trucks Asia with its FUSO brand being sold in sold in Africa for almost five decades.
Marc Llistosella, President and CEO of MFTBC and Head of Daimler Trucks Asia says both Regional Centres help the brand get closer to FUSO customers in Africa through improved sales and service. Africa has growth potential for robust trucks, and Daimler is keen to increase sales and market share in teh region.
Daimler Trucks Asia took its new FUSO range to Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Nigeria and South Africa since 2013. Vehicles are manufactured at the Orgagadam Chennai factory in India with African markets leading export numbers. Sometime in 2016, DTA will begin sales of high-powered heavy-duty trucks under FUSO in Kenya and Tanzania to meet infrastructure project needs.
Llistosella sees the move as further proof of the global Daimler Truck strategy. While access to Daimler Trucks Technology and international Sales setup is a given, DTA brands FUSO and BharatBenz are positioned as growth drivers in Asia, Africa and South America, proving to be important export markets that boost the make in India ethos.
Daimler Trucks Asia (DTA) jointly operates Mitsubishi Fuso Truck and Bus Corporation (MFTBC) and Daimler India Commercial Vehicles India Pvt. Ltd. (DICV).