[Redline6800]

Daimler India Commercial Vehicles Pvt Ltd (DICV) announces that Mercedes Benz' bus division will be integrated with it. Previously the bus business was handled by Mercedes Benz India Private Ltd (MBIL) located out of Pune. Daimler sees the Indian market as one with increasing potential. However, the Luxury Coach segment is still very small in comparison to the total market. While MB India has sold more than 300 buses since 2008, Volvo Buses sold 700 units in 2012 alone (Volvo entered the Indian bus market in 2001).



DICV will now handle the marketing, sales & after-sales of Mercedes-Benz Buses. Servicing will be taken up by select dealers of BharatBenz. Initially only 7 dealers, along with 2 existing dealers who have been servicing MB buses, will handle the servicing requirements for these buses.

Bus manufacture will continue at MB India's Pune factory for some more time. Eventually, manufacturing will shift to DICV’s manufacturing plant at Oragadam, near Chennai.

[GTO]

Thread moved from the Assembly Line to the Commercial Vehicle Section. Thanks for sharing!

[binaiks]

Originally Posted by Redline6800

While MB India has sold more than 300 buses since 2008, Volvo Buses sold 700 units in 2012 alone (Volvo entered the Indian bus market in 2001).

I don't have another expression for this!

Originally Posted by Redline6800

DICV will now handle the marketing, sales & after-sales of Mercedes-Benz Buses. Servicing will be taken up by select dealers of BharatBenz. Initially only 7 dealers, along with 2 existing dealers who have been servicing MB buses, will handle the servicing requirements for these buses.

That is quite some good news for existing Merc owners. The current service support is awful, and operators are made to wait for 10~15 days for simple parts to arrive - accidents would mean that the bus is off the road for atleast 45 days. Volvo buses come back on roads after accidents in less than 15 days (for minor ones they take less than 5 days).

When would this transition be completed? I mean by when would BB dealers start servicing Merc buses? A list of the dealers would also be great.

Originally Posted by Redline6800

Bus manufacture will continue at MB India's Pune factory for some more time. Eventually, manufacturing will shift to DICV’s manufacturing plant at Oragadam, near Chennai.

Hope that would end the Sutlej episode as well. Currently Merc takes no responsibility for any body related claims - the customer is made to head to Sutlej instead.

On a side note - would the buses continue with the Mercedes Benz branding, or would they be branded as BharatBenz from now on?

[parassoni]

Originally Posted by binaiks

On a side note - would the buses continue with the Mercedes Benz branding, or would they be branded as BharatBenz from now on?

Precisely the question that came to my mind too! BHaratBenz has a very distinct Logo and Truck specific branding which might not help Bus Operators as much in luring Passengers, As a Mercedes Benz Logo would!

[Jai_SJ]

Originally Posted by parassoni

Precisely the question that came to my mind too! BHaratBenz has a very distinct Logo and Truck specific branding which might not help Bus Operators as much in luring Passengers, As a Mercedes Benz Logo would!

BharatBenz is just one of the brands under the Daimler India Commercial Vehicle (DICV) umbrella; they have already taken over the manufacture and sale of Mercedes-Benz Actros trucks last year. The buses, to best of my knowledge will continue to bear the three-pointed star. This is mostly a reorganisation of Daimlers India operations with the older passenger vehicle company giving up all CV related business to the new dedicated CV player.

[Tejas Ingle]

Hello everyone.
Just bumped into this thread and thought of sharing some information.
All the dealers are already functional and are providing service for the buses.
The 3 pointed star will continue to adorn the buses.
Sutlej Motors Ltd will continue to build bodies.
Transfer to a commercial vehicle oriented company will surely improve the standing of the bus in the market.
The service support is seeing a steady improvement.

[Stanher]

'happened to catch a glimpse of this MB coach from Bangalore on the road here in Hyderabad this morning! The build quality appears very decent, must be as good inside.
Sorry couldnt take complete pics. of it, was riding pillion on bike.

Whats that logo on the rear though?

[amit V8]

Originally Posted by Stanher

Whats that logo on the rear though?

That's Sutlej, the official coach builder for MB buses. They build coaches for other makers as well.

[Tejas Ingle]

Originally Posted by Stanher

'happened to catch a glimpse of this MB coach from Bangalore on the road here in Hyderabad this morning! The build quality appears very decent, must be as good inside.

This particular coach has excellent and neetly maintained beige interiors. I guess they also provide pantry service.

[TheARUN]

Funny thing is VOLVO Busses have the tag axle before the rear drive axle and the MERCEDES BENZ has its tag axle behind the rear drive axle