Mercedes 1999 Annual Report Download - page 47

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COMMERCIAL VEHICLES
41
units (up 45%) in 1999, which represents a market share of
23.1% (1998: 19.5%). Thomas Built Buses Corporation, which
Freightliner acquired in 1998, contributed 14,500 vehicles
to total unit sales in North America. Thomas Built Buses is
one of the leading manufacturers of bus superstructures in
the NAFTA region.
In order to further strengthen DaimlerChrysler’s position in
the global bus business, our subsidiary, Freightliner, formed a
joint venture with Mayflower Corporation plc. of the UK, to
produce buses for the North American market.
POWERTRAIN BUSINESS UNIT: A POWERFUL SYSTEM
SUPPLIER. The Powertrain business unit (PTU) manu-
factures and markets engines, transmissions, axles and
steering systems. The business unit’s most important
customers are the commercial vehicle assembly plants
within DaimlerChrysler itself. In 1999, the business unit
supplied components worth €3.2 billion to customers at
DaimlerChrysler and external customers. Following its first in-
dependent appearance at a trade fair (the 1998 International
Auto Show in Hanover, Germany), the PTU business unit
has been able to market its products more successfully to
customers outside of DaimlerChrysler. The acquisition of At-
lantis Foundries in South Africa marks a further stage in the
drive to expand PTU’s international production collaboration
and boost its competitiveness on the world market.
SERVICE PACKAGES IN DEMAND. Mercedes-Benz
CharterWay, a joint venture between our Services division,
debis, and the Mercedes-Benz Commercial Vehicles division,
offers its customers a comprehensive service package
including everything from repairs and maintenance to profes-
sional fleet management. Since CharterWay was founded in
1992, more than 40,000 vehicles have been serviced in this
way. By the end of 1999, CharterWay was active in 20
countries.
NETWORKING CUTS COSTS. In 1999, we intensified
networking among various production and development
facilities within the Commercial Vehicles division. This has
helped us to fur-ther reduce costs and improve our
competitive position. For example, the first Freightliner
models with Mercedes-Benz engines were unveiled in March
1999 at the Mid-American Trucking Show. The new Sterling
Acterra, which is scheduled for market launch in early 2000,
will be equipped with four-cylinder and six-cylinder Mercedes-
Benz diesel engines. A further example is the new generation
of medium and heavy trucks in South America, which will
be equipped with the cab used for the European Atego. The
new business structure will give additional impetus to this
process of integration.
The Mercedes-Benz Vito F
offers numerous new attractive
features. With its spacious,
variable interior and its excellent
ride, the Vito F perfectly suits the
needs of sporty individuals,
young families, or business
people looking for a multi-
purpose vehicle.
1,000
Units
99:98
(in %)
Commercial Vehicles Sales 1999
555 +13
226 +3
282 +20
45 +37
2 -25
287 +4
114 + 7
161 +9
30 +13
29 +5
21 +24
193 +54
172 +59
45 -23
30 -24
11 - 12
World
of which: Vans (including V-Class)
Trucks
Buses
Unimogs
Europe
of which: Germany
Western Europe (excl. Germany)
of which: France
United Kingdom
Italy
NAFTA
of which: USA
South America
of which: Brazil
Asia