News

Despite the ongoing slump in the US heavy truck market, Andreas Renschler, head of Daimler Trucks worldwide, insists: "Mercedes-Benz is steaming full-speed ahead - the three-pointed star is shining brighter than ever." Speaking in Stuttgart this week at the launch of the new Actros tractor, Renschler reported that Daimler-Benz's truck operation boosted its return on sales to 7.5% last year (up from 5.8% in 2006). This was in spite of the US heavy truck market,  where it competes with Freightliner, Sterling and Western Star brands, falling by a whopping 41%.

Daimler's truck boss, however, is in bullish form, citing the fast-growing markets in Eastern Europe (up 20%) and Latin America (up 28%) as key contributors to the truck group's recent positive results and ongoing sales growth. Renschler believes that while Europe "is still the home turf of the three-pointed star, we're looking beyond to Eastern Europe for bigger growth". In particular, he says sales of heavy trucks in Poland have recently tripled.

Daimler's biggest target markets, however, are what Renschler calls the 'BRIC' countries - Brazil, Russia, India and China - where it intends to increase business either through its own products or via joint ventures with the likes of Hero in India and Foton in China. Reasserting Daimler's position as the world's number-one truck maker, Renschler also delivered a confident sidewipe at the recent takeover of Scania by VW, which  could see closer ties between the Swedish truck maker and MAN. "We monitor mergers of other manufacturers with serenity," he says.

---

A truck that will satisfy operators and long-haul drivers alike is how Mercedes describes its new 'third-generation' Actros, which made its official debut this week. The latest model boasts modest exterior styling tweaks at the front as well as a revised interior trim and instrument panel. With the driver in mind, the new Actros also boasts a fore/aft self-levelling top bunk, quick seat-back releases to allow easier access to the under-bunk storage area, a new shaving mirror, towel holder, table and in-cab compressed air outlet.

Although the Actros's current V6 and V8 engines remain (the new HDEP straight-six engines won't appear much before 2010), all road-going models now get the PowerShift 2 auto box as standard along with a revised air-compressor and two-stage water pump to minimise power losses and ultimately reduce fuel consumption. Other improvements include a new steering box, the option of Xenon headlights (with a lens that can be replaced without changing the whole unit) and a modified A-post and rain deflector. For full details see next week's CM.