The new range of trucks, a “combination of Daimler’s DNA and India’s market know-how,” will run from six to 49 tons and will be developed and built in India, Daimler chairman Dieter Zetsche said in a statement.
Daimler, the world’s leading maker of heavy trucks, expects the Indian market to double in size by 2020 and will invest €700 million ($945 million) to meet the growing demand, the statement said.
Production is to begin next year at a Daimler plant in Oragadam, near Chennai in southern India.
“These trucks will be developed and built in India, for India, and by specialist employees from India,” said Zetsche.
Asia is the biggest market for Daimler Trucks, with 2010 sales of 127,000 vehicles.
Daimler already owns the Mitsubishi Fuso truck group, in addition to the Mercedes-Benz, Freightliner and Western Star lines.
AFP/The Local/mry
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