Daimler India Commercial Vehicles (DICV), the manufacturer of BharatBenz trucks and buses and a wholly owned subsidiary of Daimler Truck AG, has announced plans for an additional investment of approximately ₹4,000 crore in Tamil Nadu to expand its manufacturing, research and development and technology capabilities. The proposed investment is part of a non-binding facilitation Memorandum of Understanding signed with the Government of Tamil Nadu at the Tamil Nadu Investment Conclave. Once implemented, the investment will take DICV’s cumulative investment in India to more than ₹14,500 crore.
The planned investment is expected to support BharatBenz product development, manufacturing capacity, research and development, infrastructure and future technology programmes. The company expects the investment to create approximately 400 jobs over the proposed investment period.
Since the launch of BharatBenz in India in 2012, more than 220,000 trucks and buses have been sold and put into operation across the country. The vehicles serve sectors including logistics, construction, mining, freight transportation and passenger mobility. BharatBenz trucks are designed for Indian operating conditions and cover applications including long-haul transportation, regional distribution, construction, mining, tractor-trailers and specialised transport. Its bus portfolio caters to school, staff and intercity transportation requirements, with emphasis on safety, reliability, driver comfort and operating efficiency.
DICV’s 400-acre integrated manufacturing and R&D facility at Oragadam near Chennai employs more than 4,000 people. The company works with over 400 local suppliers, with approximately 92% of BharatBenz product value localised through its Indian supplier network.
BharatBenz is supported by more than 420 dealer and service touchpoints across India. The company has also strengthened its after-sales infrastructure through its Parts Logistics Centre in Pune, aimed at improving parts availability and supporting vehicle uptime.
Torsten Schmidt, Managing Director & CEO, Daimler India Commercial Vehicles, said the investment reflects the company’s confidence in the future of India’s commercial vehicle market. He said rising activity in infrastructure, logistics, mining, construction and passenger transportation is increasing demand for vehicles that offer high uptime, safety, reliability and operating efficiency.
Beyond its role in the domestic market, DICV is also an important part of Daimler Truck’s global manufacturing and sourcing network. The company has exported more than 75,000 trucks and buses and over 330 million parts to more than 70 markets. Its Chennai operations also supply transmissions to Daimler Truck manufacturing facilities in Germany. The proposed investment is expected to further strengthen DICV’s capabilities in product engineering, localisation, manufacturing and customer support while increasing India’s contribution to Daimler Truck’s international operations.
DICV said the investment will reinforce BharatBenz’s position in the Indian market and support the development of a stronger commercial vehicle ecosystem through expanded manufacturing, supplier partnerships, technology capabilities and nationwide service support.
Daimler India Commercial Vehicles, a subsidiary of Germany’s Daimler Truck AG, has established itself as a major player in the Indian commercial vehicle market since its inception in 2009. Known for its BharatBenz brand, DICV also manufactures and exports vehicles under the FUSO, Mercedes-Benz, and Freightliner brands to over 60 global markets. The company operates a state-of-the-art 400-acre facility in Oragadam, Chennai, with production, R&D, and testing capabilities, supported by an investment of over ₹9,500 crore and a workforce of 4,000. DICV aims to continue strengthening its role in Daimler’s global supply and manufacturing network.
