Growth prospects for Daimler trucks in emerging markets

Andreas Renschler, Daimler AG’s truck chief, said that the company’s long-term growth prospects in emerging markets remain promising, where demand shifts away from low-frills trucks and veer more toward upmarket vehicles. However, in Latin America and parts of Europe, market development is strained. “The low-cost segment in Russia, India and China starts to shrink, while the so-called modern domestic segment is growing,” Renschler said. He explained that although modern trucks aimed at emerging markets have less advanced technology, they are more robust while offering better quality products with superior fuel-efficiency than the basic trucks that currently dominate roads in those countries. Daimler’s truck division is the largest manufacturer of commercial vehicles in the world in terms of revenue. (June 22, 2012)