Mitsubishi Fuso trucks to come soon to India

Luxury car maker DaimlerChrysler India (DCIL) is planning an entry into the commercial vehicle (CV) segment through its subsidiary Mitsubishi Fuso. The world’s largest truck manufacturer, DaimlerChrysler, would be rolling out medium range CVs - trucks and buses - in India from its Mitsubishi Fuso stable.

According to sources in the automobile industry, DCIL zeroed in on Mitsubishi Fuso with an eye on a possible technical alliance with a local Indian CV company. Mitsubishi had formed a technology tie-up with the Delhi-based Eicher Motors (EML) two decades ago for its commercial vehicle range and long-term synergies for DCIL are not ruled out. DCIL currently has a 3.56% stake in EML and is reportedly negotiating for a strategic partnership with it.

The e30 billion Mitsubishi Fuso has a wide range of 6 to 15-tonne trucks and 30 to 55-seater fully built buses which are ideal for the Indian market. DCIL is targeting the medium CV segment, which is currently dominated by home-grown players - Ashok Leyland, Force Motors, Swaraj Mazda, Tata Motors and EML. Mitsubishi Fuso’s foray is likely to revive the segment, where growth dropped by 14% to 7,334 units in the April-June quarter of this fiscal.

This debut is expected to change the medium range CV market in India just as a bevy of international players like MAN Motors, Scania, Navistar and Volvo are gradually changing the dynamics of the heavy CV market.

Source