OREANDA-NEWS. Precisely one year after launching the first BharatBenz trucks on the Indian market, Daimler India Commercial Vehicles (DICV), takes first, positive stock of its activities. The wholly owned subsidiary of Daimler AG started sales of BharatBenz, a truck brand especially designed for India, with three heavy-duty trucks.

"In as little as twelve months, we have gained a foothold on the Indian market and lived up to our brand promise 'Power Ahead'", sums up Marc Llistosella, Managing Director and CEO of DICV, on the occasion of a Chennai-located event celebrating the first market anniversary. "We will work just as powerfully in the upcoming months to further expand our product portfolio as well as our dealership network."

The latest member within the Daimler commercial vehicle family can already look back on an eventful first year. While the heavy-duty BharatBenz trucks for long haulage and the construction sector from 25 to 31 tonnes made the start last September, sales of the light and medium duty trucks in the segments from nine to 12 tonnes commenced, as scheduled, in February 2013.

The robust, efficient and economic BharatBenz trucks resonate well with the Indian customers. Despite facing a difficult market environment, BharatBenz was able to go from a standing start to take fourth place in India's ranking of new truck registrations in the second quarter 2013. More than 5,000 BharatBenz trucks have rolled off the assembly line. First industry awards, among them the nationally renowned "Apollo CV of the Year 2013" award, also underline the brand's successful start in India.

DICV, however, does not act in an isolated way in India, but uses and promotes synergies of the global Daimler Trucks network in the framework of the "Asia Business Model." Under the umbrella of Daimler Trucks Asia, the two subsidiaries Mitsubishi Fuso Truck and Bus Corporation (MFTBC) and DICV work closely together to strengthen their presence in growth markets. Next to BharatBenz trucks for India, FUSO trucks for selected export markets in Asia and Africa have rolled off the Chennai assembly plant since May 2013. In Zambia, for instance, the new FUSO vehicles with robust and functional design produced in India will be offered to customers as of now.