June 21, 2012: Daimler India Commercial Vehicles (DICV) commenced its commercial production today and rolled out its first 25-tonne rigid BharatBenz truck off the assembly line at its Oragadam plant in Chennai. The plant was inaugurated on April 18.

The first product scheduled for the market launch in September this year is the 230hp 2523 heavy duty truck. The BharatBenz heavy-duty trucks are built on the Mercedes-Benz Axor platform, while the light- and medium-duty trucks are based on the Fuso Canter series. All the products will be rolled out by 2014.

DICV claims its trucks will deliver best-in- class performance, reliability and fuel efficiency. DICV’s plant in Chennai has an initial production capacity of 36,000 units per year and is designed to allow an increase production to up to more than 70,000 commercial vehicles per year. DICV has invested Rs 4,400 crore to set up its business in India, and unveiled the India-specific BharatBenz brand in early 2011.

Speaking on the occasion, Marc Llistosella, managing director and CEO, DICV, referred to the immense performance both Indian and German employees showed to turn the company’s engagement into a success. In the first phase, BharatBenz trucks will be sold and serviced over a network of 70 dealer locations. At more than 300,000 units sold in 2011 in India, the range BharatBenz will enter was one of the world’s top three truck markets in 2011. Given the opportunity that the India market offers, DICV also plans to enter lighter segments. It is “discussing” to have a six-tonne variant.

Click here for more on the German truck major's India gameplan.