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-   -   Daimler Trucks now known as "BharatBenz" in India! EDIT: Launch details on pg5 (https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/commercial-vehicles/96798-daimler-trucks-now-known-bharatbenz-india-edit-launch-details-pg5-6.html)

If this is indeed the pricing strategy DICV is likely to leap-frog the rest of the M&HCV newbies to pose the most significant challenge to TML & AL.

From another perspective TML and AL (and Eicher to some extent), with their distribution & service network + product development capable of delivering products as per market requirements, may be better placed to ward off the threat from DICV than the rest of the pack.

Tata must speed up the launch of its newly developed range of LCVs/ICVs/MCVs to take on BB. Prima too must be launched across its entire range. Tata is notorious for delaying new vehicle launches & will need to display a lot more aggression, if it has to survive in the long run. It can't survive on JLR profits forever.

You will have 1014 to compete with your Eicher / TM

Not just a new brand but look at the power train options. Spot on at the indian industry. No fancy number of 300hp for a 49T and even the available 280hp is limited only to tractor and the haulage is restricted to 230hp.
This shows that they have understood India's requirements. These power train options is the right trade off between existing India's developing economy and need for high end transportation.

Some more excerpts from the show.
The show will be there till 7th of March and was also told that similar event will happen in major cities soon.
It was mentioned that there will be price premium of a single digit number(max9%) and most importantly these products will have a double digit better fuel efficiency compared to existing trucks (min 10%). I mentioned as min 10%, as even that will have a great USP, if at all realized.

With all this players getting inroads, the TIV for the M&HCV is likely to grow only at 6-7% for the next coming as against LCV growth of 20%.
With this the game should be a interesting watch.

Now with Daimler on-board, the only major player away from Indian soil is Paccar!

And here is the first truck transported - a 2523 on a 4928.

My comment regarding benchmarking the big two was to highlight the same.
The right products at the right price for the Market.

PACCARS current India strategy seems to be centred on sourcing and engineering\IT support from India rather than product development.

Its possible that the work being done in Brazil with the new plant and products customized for that market will form the basis for their foray into India. As a general observation PACCAR in the Americas and the DAF brand that it owns in Europe have been very focussed in the markets they operate. And I do not mean just in terms of products but in terms of conducting business. The are now in that steep learning curve that Volvo and Daimler went through many years ago when they adopted a global sales strategy. One can speculate that it will take a while for the PACCAR to get to speed in the BRIC region.

Could you please explain the logic a bit more in detail. I could not follow you completely on this topic.

Very true. AL has missed the LCV/ICV segment till now and I feel they have lost quite a big chunk of the market because of no presence! Let us hope they can catch-up with their new launches in the LCV/ICV segments.

There are rumours of PACCAR taking over AMW. We saw their truck displayed at the AutoExpo too. So I would say they will not stay away from India for too long.

PACCAR has already invested in a plant in Brazil. It should get streamlined by 2013-14. So, if the AMW tie-up gets going then they cover B & I from BRIC!!

Is BharatBenz only for India or are they planning to promote this brand across APAC?

What Volvo trucks has done. With FM and FH series they claim the highest powered trucks in India but are not in the common league and only in the Niche segment.
Mercedes Benz also when launched their buses came with the same bang. spec to spec higher than Volvo and claimed better.
But here in the case of BB, this was not done and they have chosen the right power train options (In Indian Context).

With this I have question in mind.
Mahindra Navistar who by all means are good, wrt price required power and a good dealer touch points are not able to make significant in roads into CV space.
Understand FE is major issue but still mahindra is more aggressive unlike AL/TM which should improve upon the image and product.

Though its going to be a tough task for established players to retain the numbers, what will the case of smaller players like Mahindra, Man, AMW, VE - Here I meant smaller players purely in the context of numbers they sell.


Paccar in my view will not take over AMW. Rather it may be only a Technical partnership / dealerships sharing.
I too had the question of export front of BB. Will the brand be accepted as such condition(As Bharat pertains to India) in other countries?

Agree with Ashleys comments - From a strategic point of view the only real synergy between AMW And PACCAR is the engine supplier - Cummins. All DAF LF series (medium duty) and a part of the CF series (Medium & Heavy) are powered by cummins in Europe and other parts of the globe where these are sold. Besides AMWs cab with its Chinese roots is of questionable value to PACCAR.

Repeating what Ive stated in an earlier post - the Big 2 (Eicher probably hangs hangs in there as well in 3rd spot) in India are probably better positioned to deal with the BharatBenz threat as compared to the rest of the CV pack.

Was doing some truck hunting on Sunday (11th March 2012) and to my surprise found the 'Bharat Benz Dealership' getting ready on the Bangalore outskirts after Nelmangala on the Tumkur highway.


Earlier this was the Mahindra Navistar dealership from Trident. But don't know why did they changed it from Mahindra Navistar to Bharat Benz. Mahindra Navistar seem to be doing good in the Karnataka market as well. There were 2 trucks of Mahindra Navistar still lying in this dealership.


The Bharat Benz showroom has been completely renovated and looks impressive just like the 'Ashok Leyaland Small Commercial Vehicle' Showroom near Yeshvantpur station in Bangalore...


Though the Bharat Benz trucks have not yet come On-road. Bharat Benz seem to have a massive plan to enter and conquer the trucking market in India. Hope to catch some trucks soon...

With all the "Big Boys" of Commercial Vehicle industry moving into India, its going to be a repeat of what happened in the Car Industry a decade back - Intense Competition, Great Products and naturally amble choice for the Customer .
It will be a Truck and Bus Decade indeed !!!

2/3 of trucks sold in INDIA are TATA trucks

Trucks and buses are bread and butter business of TML and profits are much more heftier than car business.

If they earn a rupee in car business, they earn 5.6 rs in bus and truck.

TML has been observing the work of BHARAT BENZ MD Marc with a keen eye and are taking the competition very seriously.

Bharat Benz plans to provide roadside assistance in flat 2 hours on Golden Quadrilateral as of now.

They have spent 6 years before the launch and have worked to minutest details as you would expect from Germans ( Have studied things like why windscreen breaks on a stone hit ).

All above details are as per what i read from FORBES magazine May 2012 which has cover title - HIGHWAY ROBBERY and a truck in background, its a must read guys.

P.S :This is the first time i took forbes mag in my hand because of obvious reasons

If they suceed, i hope they make things easier and life better for the truck drivers who are underpaid, overworked and earn the least respect from authorities and public in general.

Any images for the interiors, have not seen any where online. Please please:post a few images.

BB is only for India and as such since exports are not planned for the immediate future, it doesnt matter. anyways it wont be difficult to rebrand the trucks for other local markets in asia

Looks like the deliveries of BharatBenz has commenced, finally. I saw around 4 of them heading as a convoy towards Tumkur, on the NICE road this evening (saw them between the Tumkur Road and Magadi Road exits of NICE road).

Some pics:

I can understand the logic behind using a 230 Hp engine for a tipper. However, using a 230 HP engine for a haulage is really amazing. IMO, it is seriously going to affect the FE.

The models of trucks Bharat Benz is bringing to India seems to be from their South American port folio. Not the latest from Europe. India being a cost sensitive market, they are careful to offer models with limited frills.