Daimler India Commercial Vehicles (DICV) today showcased its readiness to transition to the new emission norms of Bharat Stage VI which will be effective from April 2020. Worldwide, Daimler has already sold over 1.4 million vehicles with EURO VI technology, an equivalent emissions standard. Additionally, DICV received certification for BS VI back in July 2019, proving they have successfully adapted their expertise with EURO VI to the Indian market.
Speaking at DICV's BS VI sneak preview, Satyakam Arya, Managing Director & CEO, Daimler India Commercial Vehicles (DICV), said: "Daimler's experience of already bringing 1.4 Million EURO VI trucks and buses on the roads means we are easily ready to transition our BharatBenz trucks and buses to BS VI by the April 2020 deadline. With this head start, we will begin exporting India-built trucks by 2021/2022."
DICV invested around Rs.500 crore to localize their EURO VI technology for India, completing two million kilometres of testing, developing new facilities and over 1000 new parts, and achieving an outstanding localization rate above 80% on its products.
"The transition to BS VI opens up more opportunities to export fully-built vehicles, engines and parts to countries like Mexico, Chile and Brazil that will soon migrate to similar emission norms. This further strengthens India's position as a global production network for Daimler Trucks and Buses," Arya explained.
Depending on the availability of BS VI fuel in India, DICV will officially launch its upgraded range of BS VI trucks and buses in Q1 of 2020. DICV will begin exporting its OM926 engine series internationally by 2021/22.
The DICV Oragadam plant which manufactures the vehicles is the only Daimler location worldwide which produces engines, transmissions, trucks and buses catering to four brands - BharatBenz, FUSO, Mercedes-Benz and Freightliner.
In addition to completing over two million kilometers of BS VI testing in varied geographies for BharatBenz Heavy Duty and Medium Duty Trucks, DICV is also gearing up its after-sales network with learnings from other markets. These competencies have been incorporated into training modules at its dealerships, which now spread across India with over 200 customer touchpoints nationwide.
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