Mercedes 2009 Annual Report Download - page 69

Management Report |Business and General Conditions |65
Excellent rankings in various customer-satisfaction surveys
confirm the success of our long-term quality and customer-
satisfaction offensive in the Mercedes-Benz Cars division.
The objective of Daimler Trucks is to secure its position as
the
biggest globally active manufacturer of trucks above
6 tons gross vehicle weight with first-class products and ser-
vices, also under the currently difficult economic conditions.
Mer
cedes-Benz Vans aims to defend its leading position in
Europe and to penetrate new markets. Daimler Buses has the
target
of maintaining its leading role for buses above 8 tons
and of achieving further growth in traditional and new markets.
Daimler’s trucks, vans and buses also received numerous
awards in 2009, reflecting the success of our commercial vehi-
cles in the marketplace.
We intend to further enhance our position in the markets of the
future with regionally adapted products and – if and when
required – with support from local partners. The Chinese marke t
is a focus of our activities in Asia. Last year, we strengthened
our market position in that country and are now the fastest-
growing premium car brand in China. We intend to continue
improving our position in the future and have therefore signifi-
cantly expanded our range of models available to Chinese cus-
tomers in the past three years. Preparations are now being mad
e
for local production of the new E-Class, which we will launch
exclusively in China as a long-wheelbase version in the middle
of 2010 in order to fulfill specific customer requirements. In
the negotiations with Foton, one of China’s leading manufac-
turers of commercial vehicles, we have made progress in
re
cent months on the way to establishing a truck joint venture.
And we are also building a van plant in China; the Viano and
Vito models are to be launched in China in the first half of 2010 .
In Pune, India, we put a new car assembly plant into operation
at the beginning of 2009, creating scope for further growth.
The joint venture of Daimler Buses and Sutlej Motors in India
&