Daimler’s first Indian-built truck has rolled off the production line at its Chennai manufacturing plant.
Its subsidiary, Daimler India Commercial Vehicles (DICV), plans on launching a total of 17 models for the Indian market by 2014, under the BharatBenz brand.
The range will cover the entire weight segment from six to 49 tonnes gross vehicle weight (GVW), with the first truck produced a heavy-duty truck with 25 tonnes GVW and an output of 173.4kW (230 hp).
DICV managing director Marc Llistosella said that the Chennai factory was built in the record time of 24 months.
“The fact that today’s launch of series production sets another milestone only a few weeks after the plant opening underpins that our project is well underway,” he said.
The BharatBenz trucks will be launched in the Indian market in September 2012, when the first vehicles will be handed over to customers through a nationwide network of around 70 dealerships.
Since early May this year, BharatBenz trucks have been taking part in a more than 8,000-kilometer-long “Power Yatra” trip through-out India.
During the tour, they plan to stop in 22 major cities to promote interest in the brand.
