Mercedes 2006 Annual Report Download - page 109

537
106
60
8
11
5
188
164
40
22
144
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Divisions |TruckGroup |93
The fourth initiative, “Future Product Generations”, concerns the
development of future products and innovative technologies. The
goal of this initiative is to consolidate and expand the division’s
innovation leadership through the introduction of new technologies
and products. Among the most important measures to be under-
taken as part of this initiative are the further development of the
global modular strategy, exhaust-gas and safety technologies,
and alternative drive systems. DaimlerChrysler is the first manu-
facturer to equip its entire range of trucks in Europe with engines
that meet the Euro 4 emission standards. In some cases, these
vehicles already fulfill the even more stringent Euro 5 emission
standards, whichwill notgo into effect until 2009.
Strengthening the global development and production net-
work. Coinciding withGroup-wide implementation of the newman-
agement model, the Truck Group launched a modified orga-
nizational structure on August 1, 2006. The division now consists
of three operating units: Trucks Europe/Latin America, Trucks
NAFTA, and Trucks Asia, each of which is responsible for produc-
tion and sales operations in its respective region. In order to
more extensively exploit synergies as early as the product creation
phase – and to allow the enhanced harmonization of parts and
components – the former Truck Product Creation unit was split into
two powerful units: Truck Product Engineering, which is respon-
sible for the three vehicle development centers in Stuttgart, Port-
land and Kawasaki as well as the integrated development of
large components, and Truck Powertrain Operations & Manufac-
turing Engineering, which oversees component production and
production planning for vehicle and component plants.
“Truck Dedication” initiative places the focus on the customer.
One of our aims at the Truck Group is to maintain close relations
with our customers throughout the entire vehicle lifecycle. To this
end, we launched the “Truck Dedication” initiative in the late
summer of 2006 with the objective of aligning our sales and service
activities more closely with the needs of customers. Key ele-
ments of the initiative include establishing a stronger presence
close to our customers – for example, by opening additional
service centers near highways and logistics centers and guaran-
teeing that our service teams are available round the clock.
+1
+4
+4
-19
+8
+10
+3
+3
+1
-5
-8
+20
Truck Group unit sales in 20061
1,000 06/05
units %
The Mercedes-Benz Actros Space-Max
shown at Germany’s International Truck
Show in 2006 features generous space
and a luxurious interior.
Total
Western Europe
thereof: Germany
United Kingdom
France
Italy
NAFTA
thereof: United States
Latin America (excluding Mexico)
thereof: Brazil
Asia
thereof: Japan
1Group sales (including leased vehicles)