Daimler India Commercial Vehicles (DICV) is confident of recording yet another year of a strong double-digit growth in its BharatBenz truck volumes this calendar year even as India emerged among the top five markets for the Daimler Group truck volumes.

“We hope to achieve a significant growth in sales for 2018. With expected pre-buying of trucks next year, we hope to achieve much higher growth in 2019 as well,” said Erich Nesselhauf, Managing Director and CEO of DICV, who will be moving to Daimler headquarters in Germany next week after a more than 10-year stint in India.

DICV recorded the highest sales of BharatBenz truck at 16,717 units in 2017 — up 28 per cent over the previous yearvolumes. Also, it reported a 64 per cent in truck sales at 11,987 units during the first half of 2018.

Favourable growth prospects on the back of focus on infrastructure sector by the Indian government and growing shift to higher tonnage trucks augur well for DICV.

Nesselhauf said the company would like to be a strong player in heavy duty segments and it sees a huge advantage in growing the sales of its tippers in construction segment. It is also seeing strong potential for its trucks in e-commerce segment.

Break even in 2018

He also said the company is sticking to the earlier guidance on the profitability and is targeting first full year of break even in 2018.

DICV may increase the number of touch points going forward. But, it will stay focused on improving the business of its existing dealers, a significant number of them have already started generating profits.

comment COMMENT NOW