- Daimler is driving forward with two-digit growth rates in its Mercedes-Benz truck sales in the premium segment in Russia, and is additionally doubling its sales of the Fuso light duty trucks in the country
- Daimler Trucks has expanded its strategic partnership with Kamaz and is tapping into the promising “modern domestic segment” with Daimler components built into Kamaz trucks
- Russia established as Europe’s largest truck market
Together with the strategic partner, Kamaz, in which Daimler AG and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development jointly hold a 15% stake, Daimler’s Commercial Vehicles Division is tapping into Europe’s largest truck market. Thus, Daimler Trucks is represented in Russia with its Mercedes-Benz truck models from partly local production not only in the premium segment, but also in the modern domestic segment with imported Mercedes-Benz components built into Kamaz trucks. This promising volume segment for trucks equipped with modern vehicle technology is to account for more than half the market for medium-duty and heavy-duty trucks by the year 2020.
“The rich product range, innovative technologies and top quality vehicle components of Daimler Trucks are convincing our strategic partner Kamaz and, not least, our demanding Russian customers,” underlines Andreas Renschler, Management Board Member responsible for Daimler Trucks and Daimler Buses.
Good prospects for Mercedes-Benz Trucks Vostok:
A broad-based sales network and higher localization rate Renschler emphasizes: “With a high two-digit growth rate in the sales of Mercedes-Benz trucks in Russia this year, we are very satisfied and thus have tailwind for the coming year 2013.”
The Joint Venture
Mercedes-Benz Trucks Vostok (MBTV) expects to post positive unit sales of around 5,000 Mercedes-Benz models in 2012, compared to the 2,800 units sold in the previous year, in addition to other successes. Whereas in the previous year app. 25% of all trucks sold were produced locally, in 2012 local production accounts for app. 35 %, with prospects of over 50 % in the coming year. Since the opening of the MBTV production location in Chelny in 2011, the Mercedes-Benz models Actros, Axor, Atego and Unimog are serially produced on site.
To ensure closer proximity to customers, in 2011, MBTV began to expand its initial sales network of 30 Mercedes-Benz dealer operations. The number, which has meanwhile grown to 50 sales locations, is to be increased to a total of 60 Mercedes-Benz Trucks dealerships in Russia in 2013. Such developments affirm the sustained leadership claim of Daimler`s Commercial Vehicles Division in growth markets like Russia, India and China.
Success for Fuso Kamaz Trucks Rus.: Leading Japanese manufacturer of light-duty trucks in Russia
Since the start of production of the light-duty truck Fuso Canter in Naberezhnye Chelny in 2010, the 7.5-ton truck of the joint venture Fuso Kamaz Trucks Rus. (FKTR) has made a name for itself in Russia. With expected sales of app. 2,100 units this year, after sales of 1,000 units in the previous year, FKTR is establishing itself as a leading Japanese truck manufacturer in the light-duty truck segment in Russia. Since 2012, Fuso is now also servicing the market in White Russia from its assembly plant in Naberezhnye Chelny. Fuso Kamaz Trucks Rus has a nationwide sales network of 56 dealer operations in Russia, and the upward trend continues. The 50:50 joint venture FKTR between Kamaz and Daimler with the subsidiary Mitsubishi Fuso Truck and Bus Corporation (MFTBC), which was founded in 2009, is responsible for the imports, production and sales of Fuso trucks in Russia.
Daimler Trucks and Kamaz deepen cooperation: Daimler components for Kamaz trucks and buses
Last month, Daimler Trucks and the Russian truck manufacturer Kamaz signed an agreement, which initially provides for the supply of 7,000 engines and 15,000 axles. Since then, Kamaz has been buying the OM 457 diesel engine for its trucks and the M 906 natural gas engine for its buses from Daimler. The agreement also provides for supplies of front and rear axles for Kamaz trucks and buses. The components are fully assembled at the Mercedes-Benz plants in Mannheim (engines), Kassel and Gaggenau (axles) before being delivered to Naberezhnye Chelny (Republic of Tartastan) in Russia. The two companies plan to set up a joint axle production in Russia in the future. Daimler´s Commercial Vehicles Division will thus be developing and expanding its components network in Russia.
As part of the continued cooperation activities in the area of commercial vehicle components, in the middle of the year, the two partners agreed on deliveries and step-wise localization of Mercedes-Benz Axor cabs for the new generation of Kamaz trucks, which shall be launched in the modern domestic segment of the Russian market in 2013. Through this, the partners are meeting the rising customer requirements for high quality, economically efficient trucks in the volume segment.
The two manufacturers expect sales of more than 20,000 Kamaz vehicles equipped with Mercedes-Benz cabs for the long term.
