INDIA – As reported here in December automotive giant Daimler AG has announced that it is to build a commercial vehicle plant in Chennai with an expected investment by the German-based company of just short of a billion dollars.
Speaking at the opening of a new test track facility the group has just opened in Chennai Marc Llistosella, Daimler India’s managing director for Commercial Vehicles, said that the new plant would have the capacity to produce 72,000 units per annum and would be fully operational within the next five years.
The announcement comes after Daimler sold its stake in Indian motor manufacturer Tata earlier this month, ending a partnership that had lasted for fifty years. Once the new facility is up and running the two companies will be in direct competition for the massive Indian truck market, which Daimler has already indentified as a key to its future commercial sales strategy.
(pic: © Daimler AG)
