Daimler sets up two regional centres in Kenya, South Africa

As part of global expansion plans, German commercial vehicle maker Daimler has set up two regional centres in Kenya and South Africa for retailing its products that would cater to 41 markets.

Daimler India Commercial Vehicle, subsidiary of Stuttgart based Daimler AG, has set up its first regional centre for commercial vehicles in Dubai that would be responsible for Middle East and North Africa business.

The second regional centre has been established in Nairobi, Kenya while the third in Pretoria, South Africa, a company statement said.

"These (two) regional centres will be responsible for the sales and service of all Daimler brands in 41 markets in East, Central and West Africa and will cover nine markets of Southern Africa," the statement said.

Daimler Trucks Asia, a unit of Daimler Trucks, jointly operates Mitsubishi Fuso Truck and Bus Corporation (MFTBC) and Daimler India Commercial Vehicles.

The appointment of regional centres is in the backdrop of expanding the sales and service network under the FUSO brand.

Daimler Trucks Asia would benefit from the regional set up with the FUSO brand.

"With the opening of these two Regional Centres, we will get close to our FUSO customers in Africa, being able to sell and service better", Daimler Trucks Asia, President and CEO, MFTBC Marc Llistosella said.

"We believe that Africa has a big growth potential for robust and efficient trucks and we intend to increase our sales and market share with this step", Llistosella who also heads Daimler Trucks Asia, said.

Currently, Daimler Trucks Asia sells FUSO range of products in Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Nigeria and South Africa.

The vehicles are manufactured at the 400 acre facility at Oragadam near Chennai and shipped to the African markets.

The company also plans to begin sales of high-powered heavy-duty truck in 2016 under the FUSO brand in Kenya and Tanzania.

In 2015 Daimler Trucks Asia sold 5,900 commercial vehicles in African region of which 4,000 units were under the FUSO brand, it added.