Daimler India Commercial Vehicles (DICV) has announced a leadership change with Torsten Schmidt set to become the company's new Managing Director and CEO in early 2026. Schmidt will succeed Satyakam Arya, who has been appointed as the designated President and CEO of Hino Motors in Japan.
Schmidt, 53, currently serves as Chief Financial Officer of Mercedes-Benz do Brasil and brings 28 years of experience with Daimler since joining the organization in 1997. He has held senior positions across multiple continents, including Germany, India, Japan, and Brazil, gaining expertise in business transformation and the entire commercial vehicle value chain.
Achim Puchert, CEO of Mercedes-Benz Trucks, praised both executives in the announcement. He highlighted Schmidt's global experience, strategic vision, and financial expertise as key qualifications for the role. Puchert also thanked Arya for his contributions to DICV's success and his commitment to customer-focused operations.
Schmidt's career at Daimler includes leadership roles at various production sites, sales organizations, and central functions across Daimler Truck, Mercedes-Benz Trucks, and Daimler Truck Asia. Prior to his current position in Brazil, he was responsible for Finance and Controlling of Daimler Truck's business operations in Asia while based in Japan.
In his new role, Schmidt will report to Puchert and lead DICV's operations, which include manufacturing and selling BharatBenz trucks, Mercedes-Benz coaches, and bus chassis. The company operates a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Oragadam near Chennai and exports products to over 60 markets globally.
The leadership transition represents a continuation of DICV's strategic development as part of Daimler Truck's global commercial vehicle operations.