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Time of India
03-07-2025
- Automotive
- Time of India
BharatBenz truck duo raises bar in construction, mining sectors
Pradeep Kumar Thimmaiyan recalls that it was Kerala which first gave the feedback on the changing dynamics within the construction and mining space. 'Fleet operators made it known to us that the landscape had altered dramatically with the massive proliferation of roads that were being built at breakneck speeds,' recalls the President & Chief Technology Officer of Daimler India Commercial Vehicles ( DICV ) which produces the BharatBenz brand of trucks and buses. In the process, requirements had also changed among these fleet operators who were now seeking trucks with greater carrying capacity and faster turnaround schedules along with reasonable maintenance costs. Fleet operators made it known to us that the landscape had altered dramatically with the massive proliferation of roads that were being built at breakneck Kumar Thimmaiyan Accompanied by a team of over 40 engineers and R&D personnel, Thimmaiyan went through a two-day brainstorming session at a hotel close to the plant in Oragadam near Chennai. The inputs were all collated and once the go-ahead came through from the top management, the stage was set for the development of the HX series. Pain points incorporated 'The spark started in Kerala followed by other states. Customer wishes and pain points were incorporated The reengineering for the HX range was done from bumper to bumper while there was a complete redesign of the suspension,' said Thimmaiyan. Likewise, the axles and transmission were also redesigned and today DICV is confident that it can assure users better TCO (total cost of ownership), productivity and longevity from the HX range. With the redesigned powertrain, AMT will ensure good productivity at lower costs. In the process, truck life will Kumar Thimmaiyan This was accompanied by work on the the Torqshift series for specialised mining applications. The big USP here is the automated manual transmission (AMT) which is the best piece of news for drivers who will now welcome the added comfort of doing away with constant gear shifting and using the clutch. 'One of the engineers came up with this idea and it will reduce driver effort. With the redesigned powertrain, AMT will ensure good productivity at lower costs. In the process, truck life will improve,' said Thimmaiyan. Daimler engineers also helped out in the exercise and there is every likelihood of manual transmissions being phased out eventually. Field research According to him, both the HX and Torqshift with price points ranging from INR 56 lakh to 65 lakh were based on 'customer-centric innovation' which in turn has been made possible thanks to extensive field research done by people at DICV. 'These two are formidable products which will change the face of construction and mining,' said Satyakam Arya, Managing Director and CEO of DICV. The investments in infrastructure and resurgence in mining will mean a CAGR of 20% by 2030 and this merits attention in terms of bringing products with the right technology, he added. Also read: Daimler Truck opens new passage to ASEAN with India, Indonesia bonding It is estimated that the country's mining and construction equipment sector is poised to grow from $16 billion to $45 billion by 2030. It is keeping this in mind that BharatBenz wants to pull out all the stops with top-class products that can strike the right connect with users. According to Arya, a large percentage of fleets in construction and mining are nearly a decade old which means the time has come to replace them with better options. DICV handed 200 of these new vehicles to its customers who noticed a 'game-changing performance shift'. This naturally meant that they were doing better than than rival models in the market. 'This industry deserve the best is what we surmised after getting customer feedback,' he added. Also read: DICV appoints Gainwell Trucking as new partner for BharatBenz mining trucks Arya, who is a DICV veteran, recalled the time when there was a fair deal of scepticism about the company cracking the Indian market which was virtually a duopoly. 'We proved these sceptics wrong and have since moved from being a challenger brand to trustworthy partner where dealers and suppliers have also played a big role,' he said.
The Hindu
02-07-2025
- Automotive
- The Hindu
Daimler India unveils trucks for construction, mining applications
With India's mining and construction equipment sector projected to expand from $16 billion to $45 billion by 2030 to achieve the desired level of economic growth, Daimler India Commercial Vehicles (DICV), a wholly owned subsidiary of Daimler Truck AG, on Wednesday unveiled a range of BharatBenz trucks for construction and mining applications. The new range, comprising the HX series for construction and Torqshift for mining, are heavy-duty trucks priced from ₹58 lakh ex-showroom. 'The introduction of HX and Torqshift follows extensive real-world validation, with more than 150 trucks deployed in customer trials across India's most demanding construction and mining sites,' the company, which has more than 50% market share in the construction and mining trucks segment, said. 'These trials demonstrated significant improvements in uptime, operational efficiency, and profitability, leading directly to full-scale production,' it said. Satyakam Arya, Managing Director and CEO, Daimler India Commercial Vehicles, said, 'India's construction and mining sector continues to be one of our strongest business pillars, powering the next phase of national development.' 'We are seeing a decisive shift as large contractors invest in owned assets for better control and long-term returns. Many fleets are 8-10 years old and reaching the end-of-life, creating a major replacement cycle,' he said. 'Our extensive customer trials with over 150 trucks have validated the real-world performance and profitability impact these vehicles deliver,' he added. Pradeep Kumar Thimmaiyan, president and chief technology officer, Daimler India Commercial Vehicles, said, 'We designed the HX by listening to customers. Priority for vehicles with higher payload capacities, faster turn around time and fleet managers demanding lower maintenance costs.' 'Every component re-design addresses real customer challenges. We have prioritised driver safety with full EU ECE R29-03 cabin compliance and best-in-class safety features,' he added. (The writer was in Chennai at the invitation of the company)
Time of India
02-07-2025
- Automotive
- Time of India
DICV rolls out construction & mining range
Chennai: Daimler India Commercial Vehicles (DICV), wholly owned subsidiary of Daimler Truck AG, has launched its BharatBenz construction and mining range of heavy duty trucks consisting of the HX and Torqshift series models. Already the company has seeded around 200 trucks in the last six months as part of customer trials. Said Satyakam Arya, MD & CEO, Daimler India Commercial Vehicles, "India's construction and mining sector continues to be one of our strongest business pillars. Many fleets are 8 to 10 years old and are reaching their end-of-life, creating a major replacement cycle." The new range, he added, has helped reduce the total cost of ownership (TCO) by 15% to 20%. DICV, he added, has redesigned critical components like axles and suspension systems, increased horsepower by 40 HP, ensured bearings for life among other changes. The new range of trucks will also be exported. "We are doing feasibility studies market by market and over the nexr six to nine months we will decide on which markets will be a right fit," he added. Already Indonesia is a promising market, he said. The truck industry has been a little subdued so far this fiscal but from September onwards there should be better growth. "We see the industry clocking upto 5% growth this financial year but in the mid to long term the replacement cycle will kick in so growth will increase," he said. You Can Also Check: Chennai AQI | Weather in Chennai | Bank Holidays in Chennai | Public Holidays in Chennai
Time of India
25-06-2025
- Automotive
- Time of India
DICV appoints Gainwell Trucking as new partner for BharatBenz mining trucks
Daimler India Commercial Vehicles (DICV), a wholly owned subsidiary of Daimler Truck AG, has announced a new strategic partnership with Gainwell Trucking Private Limited (GTPL), part of the Gainwell Group. Under the agreement, GTPL will act as an authorised channel partner for BharatBenz mining trucks , including the 3532CM (8x4) model. The collaboration will focus on sales and after-sales services across major mining states such as Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, and regions in North, East, and North-East India. GTPL will support operations in various mining segments, including iron ore, coal, and limestone. After-sales service and parts distribution A key aspect of the partnership is its emphasis on after-sales support. GTPL will provide services such as preventive maintenance, scheduled servicing, on-site repairs, and express service options for BharatBenz trucks. The company will also maintain a spare parts inventory in distribution centres across mining regions to reduce vehicle downtime. Rajiv Chaturvedi, President & Chief Business Officer, Daimler India Commercial Vehicles, said, 'Entering into a strategic partnership with Gainwell Trucking Private Limited is a significant step for us and for the BharatBenz brand. The main purpose of this important collaboration is twofold: first, to meet the evolving needs of the mining industry, and second, to fulfil strategic infrastructure requirements, underlining that BharatBenz is ready to cater to the customised needs of customers in both the mining and infrastructure sector." Sunil Chaturvedi, Chairman & MD, Gainwell Trucking Private Limited, added, 'We are excited to partner with DICV and its BharatBenz brand. Through this collaboration, we aim to bring unparalleled value to our customers, offering exceptional service support for the best-in-class commercial vehicles in the Indian mining sector. The partnership with DICV also strengthens our presence in key mining regions across India, ensuring reliable, efficient, and advanced transportation solutions in the segment." "This association aligns with our goal of providing complete solutions for growth to our customers and we are confident that Gainwell Trucking's extensive sales and service support will add to the significant value and capabilities in the mining segment,' he added. BharatBenz 3532CM The BharatBenz 3532CM (8x4) mining truck is powered by the OM926 engine, compliant with Bharat Stage VI – OBD-2 norms. It delivers 236 kW (320 horsepower) at 2,200 RPM and 1,250 Nm of torque. The model is available in configurations for overburden removal (18/19 Cu.m Scoop Fully Built) and coal transport (27 Cu.m Box Fully Built), with both manual and AMT transmission options. DICV and GTPL plan to expand their cooperation beyond the initial scope to further serve the mining and infrastructure sectors.
Time of India
16-06-2025
- Automotive
- Time of India
Daimler Truck opens new passage to ASEAN with India, Indonesia bonding
The recent inaugural of Daimler Truck 's plant in Indonesia on June 10 marks the beginning of a new chapter for its ASEAN business where the India operations will play a key role. 'By setting up this plant, we will capture more volumes here and this will help India which sends completely knocked down kits to Indonesia. Both plants can supplement each other and market growth here will boost India's shipments,' said Satyakam Arya, Managing Director & CEO of Daimler India Commercial Vehicles (DICV). He was speaking to a select group of Indian journalists who had been invited by the company to be part of the inauguration ceremony for this new plant in the Cikarang Industrial Area, West Java, near Jakarta. According to Arya, a feasibility study was underway to see if Indonesia could become a hub for Daimler Truck across ASEAN. 'There are different free trade agreements in place and we need to look at the best opportunity. We can leverage the pacts Indonesia has with various markets and supplies can be contemplated from here. The feasibility study is still on in terms of markets and volumes,' he elaborated. There are different free trade agreements in place and we need to look at the best opportunity. We can leverage the pacts Indonesia has with various markets and supplies can be contemplated from hereSatyakam Arya Boosting overseas shipments DICV already exports trucks and buses from India to 65 markets and this exercise will continue to be an integral part of its business (Indonesia, incidentally, has always been a big market). Arya said the newly inaugurated Daimler Commercial Vehicles Manufacturing Indonesia entity would enhance that business from India. The other top priority, he continued, was to increase localisation levels in Indonesia going forward since it was imperative to use the 'strengths of this market'. From Daimler Truck's point of view, the business model is simple and straightforward given that it has different footprints worldwide both in manufacturing and marketing. 'It is important to see which is the best option for individual markets. Indonesia and India also have similar DNA traits,' said Arya. The medium and heavy commercial vehicles retailed in India are on a platform which is similar to Indonesia. 'We want to work more closely and optimise the strengths of Indonesia while using the lessons from India. In this facility, we have Mercedes-Benz products as in India and this DNA will be used optimally,' he added. Market-specific products DICV has a lineup of products which are likely to be brought to Indonesia as well as ASEAN, Middle-East and Africa. As Arya put it, whatever products it had in its portfolio would be in sync with market needs. There was also a high probability of mining trucks used in India being sold in Indonesia too. 'We will follow our unique strategy of offering customers good value-for-money products,' he reiterated. Mercedes-Benz as a brand is not new to Indonesia — it set up shop here four decades ago as one of the early movers. This plant, about 40 kilometres from the new facility, produced cars and trucks on a 100-acre facility. Daimler Truck was of the view that the Indonesian market was hugely promising from the viewpoint of big investments happening in infrastructure accompanied by better growth of logistics, availability of minerals along with a young and dynamic population. 'The ingredients were in place for a good commercial vehicle market in the future and we wanted to up the scale to capture growth and use it to access other parts of ASEAN,' explained Arya. All these positives helped sow the seeds for establishing a new plant for which the feasibility study began in end-2023 and a decision reached in February the following year. Quick commissioning The facility was commissioned in 12 months and trial production has been done for 150 units with the stage now set for commercial sales. 'We were happy that we could pull it off quickly thanks to robust planning. The team was very agile and able to change course quickly whenever they encountered a problem. They met the deadline and this can only be done with groups working together with a common goal,' he said. Processes here are much faster and way more flexible compared to the old plant. Without an efficient layout in place, continued Arya, the distance travelled for a kit from the start of assembly line was 16 kilometres in the old facility compared to just 0.8 km in the new one. 'We needed to be leaner, more flexible and cost-competitive which was why we commissioned this new plant. It is way more efficient and increases throughput. The intent was to modernise and have a more efficient layout,' he said. DICV also had experts from Chennai stationed here and flying in during the last 15 months. They shared their competencies in manufacturing, quality and supply chain which was then put to good use in Indonesia. 'Swapping knowledge is part of the ethos at Daimler Truck,' added Arya. Also read: How in-house software development will drive Daimler Trucks future success Learning from each other For instance, when it comes to inversion of the CV frame, it needs to be turned upside down for parts assembly and then set right again for fitting the cabin and powertrain. 'The speed with which they do it here in Indonesia is different from what we did in the past and hence there is an opportunity to always learn,' he said. The Indonesian auto market was traditionally developed by Japanese brands which continue to dominate across two-wheelers, passenger cars and commercial vehicles. Despite this, there is a 'separate segment of people' who like Mercedes-Benz and perceive it as a brand which is well known, aspirational and confers pride of ownership. At the beginning of this year, Daimler Truck merged its businesses in China and India with Mercedes-Benz Trucks. According to the top management, this move would allow the newly formed segment to unlock its full potential through scale and efficiency in terms of technology as well as production. It would also serve customers across five continents in 'a cohesive manner with a truly global offering while remaining a reliable, close partner in the regions'. Arya echoed these sentiments at the roundtable. 'Our entire business in Europe, Latin America has now added India and China all these regions have the same Mercedes-Benz product DNA. We believe this will give us a lot of scale and efficiency because we have production footprints in different geographies,' he said. Also Read: Daimler Truck introduces new manufacturing facility in Indonesia Greater flexibility Cost-competitive locations like India and China in tandem with Latin America and Europe would ideally give Daimler Truck the opportunity to address different market segments with premium and value products. 'It also gives us the flexibility to move production and opportunity for scale and technology,' added Arya. The DICV chief was categorical that the light truck segment was one where' we cannot make a difference and there is no point getting in' largely because it is very cost-sensitive even though volumes are tempting. 'Our DNA is different and we will stay true to this space (of M/HCVs),' he said. As for new fuel options, he made it clear that there was no point bringing 'half-baked" options to India. 'We have looked at technologies worldwide and have done limited trials of fuel cells in the intercity coach. We are looking at the market and pace of infrastructure development before we take a decision,' said Arya. Right now, prior to contemplating options for long haul trucks, the company is more likely to have electric trucks in enclosed environment/operations like mining. Breakeven can also be achieved even faster in such activities rather than long haul transfers. Fuso, Hino merger The day of the media roundtable, June 10, also brought in news of the long awaited merger of Mitsubishi Fuso, part of the Daimler Truck fold, and Hino Motors, a group company of Toyota. This has been work in progress since 2023 (Volkswagen Truck was earlier in talks with Hino) and it is only now that the merger has received the go-ahead. As Hino has articulated in its statement, the idea is to be an essential force for transformation in the world and promote the use of environmentally friendly vehicles while increasing the value of mobility in global social systems. 'Commercial vehicles, which support our daily lives by moving people and goods, are an important form of mobility that can be considered a form of social infrastructure. To create a prosperous mobility society through the use of commercial vehicles, we must solve pending challenges, such as how to achieve carbon neutrality and more efficient logistics. Doing so will require significant investment,' said Hino. Japanese consolidation Beyond this is the reality that the number of commercial vehicles is smaller than that of passenger cars and it becomes 'extremely difficult' for each of Japan's commercial vehicle manufacturers to respond to the domestic market on their own. 'To protect the automotive industry and jobs in Japan and Asia, we must increase our competitiveness by improving our operational efficiencies in development and production,' continued the Hino Motors statement. By joining forces, the goal is to enhance the competitiveness of Japanese truck manufacturers, helping to strengthen the foundation of the Japanese and Asian automotive industries. 'In this way, the integrated company aims to make a meaningful and lasting contribution to society and stakeholders,' it declared. By the end of the day, it will also keep the Chinese truck makers at bay.
