CHINA Daimler AG has strengthened its presence in the Chinese market with the foundation of Daimler Trucks and Buses China Ltd. (DTBC) – a legally independent entity for its truck and bus business in China. DTBC has obtained its business licence from the Chinese authorities.
President and CEO of DTBC Robert Veit, formerly Executive Vice President Daimler Trucks China, will directly report to Hubertus Troska, responsible for China on the Daimler Board of Management. The structural independence will enable DTBC to increase its focus on the specific needs of customers of commercial vehicles. At the same time, integrating the bus business will create room for exploring new business opportunities.
“We continue the structural realignment of our business in China with our newly established entity Daimler Trucks and Buses,” said Hubertus Troska. “The new commercial vehicle entity is another milestone for Daimler in China and highlights our longterm commitment to the world’s largest vehicle market, which offers enormous potential in the future.”
“DTBC will provide a framework for future expansion of the existing truck business and broaden our range of products, for instance in the bus segment,” explained Robert Veit, President and CEO of DTBC. “With a challenging truck market in China, the establishment of the company is very timely as DTBC will enhance more strategic planning, closer collaboration with partners and faster response to customers.”
The new organisation is based on the existing achievements and success of Daimler Trucks in China, with sales of more than 6,100 in 2012. For the sixth year in a row, Mercedes-Benz holds the market lead in the premium segment for imported trucks among European competitors. Strengthening this position in a sustainable way, DTBC will enlarge additional offers such as financing, fleet management as well as FleetBoard telematics solutions supporting customers in the management of their total cost of ownership.
Daimler in China includes Daimler Greater China, Mercedes- Benz (China), Mercedes-Benz Auto Finance, Daimler Northeast Asia Parts Trading & Services Co., the joint ventures Beijing Benz Automotive Co., (BBAC), Beijing Mercedes-Benz Sales Service Co. (BMBS), Beijing Foton Daimler Automotive Co., (BFDA), Fujian Benz Automotive Corporation (FBAC) and Shenzhen BYD Daimler New Technology Co. as well as sales companies in Hong Kong and Taiwan.
China is already the fifth-largest sales market for Mercedes-Benz trucks which claims over 50% of the premium segment. In addition, Daimler is developing the volume segment of the world’s biggest market for CVs in a joint venture with Foton Motor, a Chinese truck manufacturer. Since mid-2012, the jointly produced medium and heavy trucksunder the Auman brand have also been rolling off the production line in Beijing-Huairou.
Mercedes-Benz vans for the Chinese market are produced by the Fujian Benz Automotive Corporation joint venture.
