It's been about eight months (from October 2016) since Joerg Mommertz took charge as the Chairman and Managing Director of Man Trucks India Pvt. Ltd. And Joerg surely is enjoying it as he terms it ‘quite exciting and interesting'.

"This country's tagline ‘Incredible India' says it all. It's a very interesting and promising market and I am personally feeling very good to be here," he says with a very warm smile.

I am told that Joerg's been a professional boxer in his younger days; something that's evident from his fitness at the age of 59. While I could hardly find any aggression in his demeanour throughout the interview, his approach to business and his overall plans for MAN Trucks India are surely quite aggressive.

Truck business in India
With more than three decades of diversified management experience, Joerg has worked in different markets like Belgium, Scandinavia, Poland, Denmark and Russia. So how would he compare the Indian market to the regions he has worked in before? The answer comes quicker than I thought.

"Truck business is truck business anywhere in the world." Then he adds: "Okay, there is about 25 percent to 30 percent difference in each market but the principles of the business are similar. Market circumstances are different. Product specifications and requirements are different. But the way of how to do business is quite similar. Of course, you have to get adjusted to that important 25 percent to 30 percent differentiating factor in each market."

Coming back to India, Joerg recognises that it is an emerging market. "But it is in a transition period and it is also quite dynamic. It is very complex and challenging, and therefore I was a little bit surprised and also happy about how the Indian government implemented Bharat Stage IV emission norms. And it gives us hope also for the future. As an industry, what we do not like is an unpredictable situation.

"Will it come or will it not come? Will it come with a grace period? That's not what the industry likes or wants. But if there is clarity on policy issues then you can plan your business accordingly. And I think the Indian government is going in the right direction here. And we welcome it whole heartedly," he shares his perspective.

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