Automaker Daimler AG announced the opening up of a new regional centre for commercial vehicles in Chennai as part of its strategic exercise to realign its global sales and services organisation.

The new operations will oversee sales and service in the six neighbouring markets of Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, and Maldives.

Speaking at the opening ceremony in Chennai, Dr. Wolfgang Bernhard, Member of the Board of Management of Daimler AG, responsible for Daimler Trucks & Buses commented, “Within just seven months we have succeeded in realigning our sales and service organisation in key regions of growth – close to our customers and with a clear focus on commercial vehicles. In Southern Asia we are now launching the last of a total of six new regional centres. This will also enable us to offer tailored products and services from a single source to our customers in markets such as Sri Lanka, Myanmar or Nepal.”

The opening of the Regional Centre Southern Asia in Chennai marks the last in a series of launches which further included Regional Centres dedicated to markets in Africa, South East Asia and Latin America.

Marc Llistosella, President and CEO of MFTBC and Head of Daimler Trucks Asia said, “The Regional Centres are an excellent example of how Daimler Trucks Asia directly benefits from the global reach of our parent Daimler. We expect these Regional Centers across the globe to provide us with substantial further momentum for exports both from Japan and India.”

The new Regional Centre Southern Asia oversees regional sales and service of a wide range of brands and products from BharatBenz trucks to FUSO trucks and buses, and Mercedes-Benz trucks, buses, and vans. Its market responsibility extends to Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Sri Lanka and Maldives.

“We are very positive about this region”, said Amit Bisht, Head of the Regional Centre Southern Asia. “Demand across our brands and product lines has already been favourable, and with our new set-up we see great potential to capture additional sales for Daimler.”