Meritor, Inc. today announced that it has entered into a supply agreement with Beijing Foton Daimler Automotive Co. Ltd. (BFDA), Daimler Truck’s joint venture in China. With this deal, Meritor will produce a custom version of long haul tandem and single rear-drive axles for Daimler’s heavy-duty on-highway tractors, which will be produced in Beijing by BFDA.
“We are excited for the opportunity to grow in the China on-highway market through collaboration with BFDA,” said Ken Hogan, Meritor’s senior vice president and president for Truck, Europe and Asia Pacific. “Meritor’s expertise in reliable, high quality and fuel-efficient axles enables us to offer customers, like Daimler, solutions that specifically meet their needs.”
Meritor axles produced as part of this agreement will be mounted on the new heavy-duty Mercedes-Benz tractors specifically manufactured for the China market.
“We will locally produce Mercedes-Benz heavy-duty tractors, made in China for China. These trucks are tailor-made to meet the specific needs of customers in China,” said Holger Scherr, President and CEO of BFDA. “Our strong cooperation with highly reputable commercial vehicle suppliers like Meritor ensures that these custom-made components will meet the performance and quality requirements for a Mercedes-Benz truck.”
BFDA is a 50:50 joint venture between Daimler Truck AG and Chinese manufacturer Foton Motor. The company produces and operates Auman-branded heavy-duty trucks in China. Production of the first China-built Mercedes-Benz heavy-duty truck is scheduled to begin at the end of 2022.
SOURCE: Meritor
