Daimler India Commercial Vehicles (DICV) will become the anchor entity for Mercedes-Benz Trucks' newly created ISEAA customer region, which comprises 42 countries across India, South-East Asia and Australia-Pacific.

Torsten Schmidt, CEO and Managing Director of DICV, will also serve as President of the Mercedes-Benz Trucks Customer Region ISEAA. The region covers nearly 2.8 billion people, with commercial vehicle demand expected to grow by more than 5% annually.

"Through the new ISEAA customer region, we are bringing India, South-East Asia and Australia-Pacific closer together to strengthen collaboration, share capabilities and respond faster to customer needs across these markets," Schmidt said.

India becomes regional anchor

Under Daimler Truck's new operating model, Mercedes-Benz Trucks is organised into four customer regions: Europe; LAMEA, covering Latin America, the Middle East and Africa; China; and ISEAA. DICV will anchor ISEAA. The company has exported more than 75,000 trucks and buses, as well as more than 330 million parts, to over 70 markets. Its Chennai facility also supplies medium-duty transmissions to Daimler Truck plants in Germany.

"For our customers in India, BharatBenz remains focused on delivering products and services designed specifically for local operating conditions, while benefiting from the scale, expertise and collaboration of the broader Mercedes-Benz Trucks segment," Schmidt said.

BharatBenz prepares product updates

DICV is preparing the next phase of the BharatBenz portfolio, including Advanced Driver Assistance Systems calibrated for Indian operating conditions as safety regulations evolve. The company also sees potential for wider adoption of its Torqshift Automated Manual Transmission technology. Already introduced with the HX range in the construction and mining segment, the AMT is set to be expanded across the BharatBenz portfolio.

BharatBenz plans to increase its nationwide service network from 430 touchpoints to 600 by 2030, with a focus on northern, eastern and north-eastern India. According to the company, its Rakshana service assurance programme currently services and delivers more than 98% of vehicles within 48 hours.

Rs. 40 billion (US$ 417 million) investment in India

The announcement comes alongside DICV's additional investment commitment of approximately Rs. 40 billion in Tamil Nadu under a non-binding facilitation MoU with the state government. The commitment will take DICV's cumulative investment in India beyond Rs. 145 billion and is aimed at increasing manufacturing capacity, R&D infrastructure and future technology development. DICV currently operates with 92% localisation and works with more than 400 local suppliers.