HANOVER: Daimler Commercial Vehicles India is ready to start operating its full range of buses and plans to export nine tons of Mercedes-Benz school buses to the Middle East by the end of this year.

The company, which is a wholly owned subsidiary of Daimler, plans to expand its product line and plans to enter the domestic market next year by launching a 16-ton bus chassis.

Next year, we plan to enter the business of selling buses to state governments and ministries.

Markus Villinger, CEO, India “The 9-ton Mercedes-Benz branded school buses will be sold in the GCC countries, which is the first step for India. These buses will be produced at the IAA Commercial Vehicle Show.” .

He added that the company will be established on 11th of this year Month to December to start showcasing these buses in the Middle East.

The school buses will be sold in the Middle East under the Mercedes-Benz brand. In India, it is sold using the BharatBenzz brand.

DICV is currently exporting chassis buses (9 tons) to South East Asia, Africa and Latin America.

When asked if the company is looking for new markets, Vellinger said, “We will be looking for new countries in this region (Africa, Latin America and Southeast Asia).”

Commenting on the expansion of the bus business in India, Villinger said, “We have a 9-ton front-engine chassis right now, and early next year we will start with a 16-ton front-engine chassis tons of front-end chassis.”

DICV currently sells BharatBezzz-branded 9 Made-in-India ton bus chassis and Mercedes-Benz-branded 24-ton buses.

Willinger said, “The first thing we need to understand is that we need to fully adapt to the Indian scenario and eliminate that view.” He did not disclose the sales figures of the buses.

As for market share, he said, “We haven’t planned market share targets, but we want to continue to increase market share.”

“We have established a competitive model in India and we need to make sure that we are offering products that add value and are superior to our competitors in terms of safety ergonomics and quality.” Villinger said.

Asked if the company plans to launch buses with alternative technologies, Villinger said: “Daimler has the technology, but we need options. But government support is not enough.

Regarding business with state governments, Villinger said: ‘Next year we will work with state businesses and state governments. We will provide all types of buses for the government.”

DICV’s current Oragagadama plant near Chennai has a capacity to produce 240,000 lakh pieces of buses annually.

The company has decided to invest Rs 4,400 invest Rs 1 crore in truck manufacturing and another Rs 42.5 crore in a multi acre bus plant near Chennai spread over Rs 4,000 crore.