Daimler India rejigs marketing operations

Daimler-IndiaChennai, April 1 : German automobile group Daimler restructured its commercial vehicles operations in India by integrating its Mercedes Benz bus division with its truck-making company Daimler India Commercial Vehicles Pvt Ltd (DICV), said a statement.

In a statement issued here Monday, Daimler India - a wholly owned subsidiary of Daimler - said the marketing, sales and service operations of Mercedes Benz-badged buses has been integrated with itself.

The business was until now handled by Mercedes-Benz India Pvt. Ltd., Pune.

"The alignment of the bus division with DICV is a logical step in integrating the commercial vehicle divisions of Daimler into one cohesive unit. This is in line with our global practice to ensure better synergies in various business verticals.

"With this alignment Daimler will be able to expand its presence in India through a dealer network oriented and trained in the operations of commercial vehicles," Marc Llistosella, managing director and CEO at DICV, was quoted as saying in the statement.

However, Mercedes-Benz India will continue with the bus production for some more time, the statement added.

With the current integration with DICV, Mercedes-Benz buses will now be promoted using the growing network of dealerships created for its truck brand BharatBenz. While the sale of the buses will be carried out directly by DICV, the service of these buses will be carried out by select dealers of BharatBenz.

A couple of years back, Daimler shifted the marketing and after-sales activities of Actros trucks from Mercedes Benz India to DICV. (IANS)