Mercedes-Benz has completed the delivery of 250 Actros trucks to Iraq’s State Company for Automotive Industry (SCAI).
The trucks will take part in the reconstruction efforts, and consisted of 100 Actros 3331K dump truck chassis and 150 Actros 3340S tractors for carrying water and fuel tanks or similar semitrailers.
The vehicles are equipped with Euro II V6 engines and a heavy-duty 16-speed transmission. They were shipped to Iraq as complete vehicles.
The recently-completed order was the first time Mercedes had supplied truck to SCAI, with the contract originally signed in Baghdad in February 2010.
“We’re very pleased to help with the reconstruction of Iraq by supplying 250 Mercedes-Benz Actros trucks to SCAI,” says Hubertus Troska, Head of Mercedes-Benz Trucks. “Our vehicles are perfect for use in rough terrain, where they clearly demonstrate their quality and reliability.”
Speaking earlier this year to PMV Middle East, Heiko Selzam, director sales & marketing Daimler Commercial Vehicles, Daimler Middle East & Levant, said that he sees big potential in Iraq for the truckseller.
“Iraq is a huge country, similar to that of Saudi Arabia. It also has oil capacity to that of Saudi Arabia and given the circumstances now in Iraq, we are at a stage where the entire country needs to be completely re-developed.
“The needs are enormous and the expectations are tremendous. Business groups are rapidly emerging and qualified people are available on land. All of these reasons give high hopes to the country to become a very important player in the region over the next few years.
“One key factor of the Iraq market development will be the coming of the private sector as, till now, most of the business is left to the government sectors.”
