Proposed investment to take DICV’s cumulative India investment beyond ₹14,500 crore; expected to support manufacturing, R&D, product development and future technologies while creating around 400 jobs
Daimler India Commercial Vehicles (DICV), the manufacturer of BharatBenz trucks and buses and a wholly owned subsidiary of Daimler Truck AG, has outlined an additional investment of approximately ₹4,000 crore in Tamil Nadu. The proposed investment, part of a non-binding facilitation Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Government of Tamil Nadu, is aimed at strengthening BharatBenz’s product, manufacturing and technology capabilities in India.
The proposed investment would take DICV’s cumulative investment in India to more than ₹14,500 crore. Since the BharatBenz brand entered the Indian market in 2012, more than 220,000 BharatBenz trucks and buses have been deployed across applications including freight transportation, construction, mining, logistics and passenger mobility.
The investment is expected to support product development, manufacturing, research and development, infrastructure and future technology readiness, while creating approximately 400 jobs over the proposed investment period.
Preparing for the next phase
India’s commercial vehicle industry is being shaped by continued investments in highways, industrial corridors, ports, mining, logistics infrastructure and public transportation. These developments are driving demand for vehicles that offer higher uptime, safety, reliability, fuel efficiency and lower total cost of ownership.
DICV said the proposed investment will strengthen BharatBenz’s ability to respond to these requirements through enhanced product development, manufacturing capabilities, localization and service infrastructure.
BharatBenz trucks are designed and manufactured in India for applications ranging from long-haul transportation and regional distribution to construction, mining, tractor-trailer and specialised operations. Its bus portfolio caters to school, staff and intercity transportation requirements, with a focus on safety, reliability, driver comfort, uptime and operating efficiency.
Expanding the India ecosystem
DICV’s integrated 400-acre manufacturing and R&D facility at Oragadam near Chennai forms the centre of its India operations. The facility is supported by more than 4,000 employees and a supplier ecosystem of over 400 local companies. Approximately 92% of BharatBenz product value is localized through its Indian supplier base.
The company’s nationwide BharatBenz network comprises more than 420 dealer and service touchpoints across major freight corridors, industrial clusters and regional markets. The recently launched Parts Logistics Centre in Pune is also expected to strengthen parts availability and dealer support, with a focus on improving customer uptime.
India’s global role
Beyond serving the domestic market through BharatBenz, DICV has increasingly become part of Daimler Truck’s global manufacturing, sourcing and engineering network.
The company has exported more than 75,000 trucks and buses and over 330 million parts to more than 70 markets. Its Chennai operations also supply transmissions to Daimler Truck plants in Germany.
Commenting on the announcement, Torsten Schmidt, Managing Director & CEO, Daimler India Commercial Vehicles, said, “BharatBenz was built for India, and this investment reflects our confidence in the next phase of the country’s commercial vehicle growth. As infrastructure, logistics, mining, construction and passenger mobility continue to expand, Indian customers need trucks and buses that deliver higher uptime, safety, reliability and operating efficiency.”
He added, “Through BharatBenz, we are strengthening products, localization, service readiness and parts availability for India, while also reinforcing the country’s role as an important manufacturing and supply base within Daimler Truck’s global network.”
The proposed investment underlines DICV’s long-term focus on expanding BharatBenz’s capabilities in India while deepening the country’s role within Daimler Truck’s global operations. It also builds on the company’s existing manufacturing, R&D, supplier and service network as it prepares for the evolving requirements of India’s commercial vehicle market.
