Mercedes 2013 Annual Report Download - page 156

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Launch of Euro VI trucks successfully completed before
new emission standards take effect. With the start of series
production of the Mercedes-Benz Atego and Arocs and the
special trucks Mercedes-Benz Unimog, Econic and SLT, Daimler
Trucks successfully completed its Euro VI product offensive
for trucks and fully updated the Mercedes-Benz product lineup.
The campaign was kicked off in 2011 with the launch of
the new Actros long-haulage truck. The Antos for heavy-duty
distribution followed in 2012. In 2013, the product range
was completed with the Arocs construction-site specialist and
the new Atego for light- and medium-duty delivery work.
Euro VI technology is available also for Mercedes-Benz special
trucks. Examples include the new Mercedes-Benz Unimog
(in series production since August 2013) and the new Mercedes-
Benz SLT heavy-duty tractor (sales launch in September 2013).
Additional measures to reduce fuel consumption.
The introduction of Predictive Powertrain Control (PPC) was
another important step in the quest to increase fuel efficiency.
As far as solutions for intelligently controlling powertrains
are concerned, PPC is the most advanced system on the market,
and can optimize fuel consumption by recognizing the topo-
graphy of the road ahead. To this end, it also modifies the opera-
tion of the transmission, resulting in additional fuel savings
of up to 5% compared to vehicles without PPC. In Germany, one
out of three Actros trucks is already being ordered with the
new system.
More than 45,000 truck drivers with “ProfiTraining.”
Mercedes-Benz Trucks has trained more than 45,000 drivers
since it received government recognition for its training
courses in June 2008. The courses conform to the requirements
of German legislation on professional driver qualification.
Today, Mercedes-Benz offers a comprehensive range of courses
at almost 180 certified training centers throughout Germany.
A total of 24 new Actros trucks are provided for training purposes.
The trucks have 40 tons gross vehicle weight and a cab that
has been converted to hold seven occupants.
FUSO Canter Eco Hybrid and Daimler FleetBoard win
the European Transport Award for Sustainability 2014.
A panel of experts from the fields of science, business and
journalism judged the products entered for the award accord-
ing to their efficiency, environmental friendliness and social
responsibility. The FUSO Canter Eco Hybrid won the award in
the category “Distribution Truck up to 12 Tons,” where it
clearly outshone its competitors. In addition, Daimler FleetBoard
won first prize for its consulting services in the “Driver and
Transport Management Systems category.”
Strengthened cooperation with our partners. Beijing Foton
Daimler Automotive Co., Ltd. (BFDA), which started production
in mid-2012, is the first 50 – 50 joint venture in the Chinese
truck segment between a local manufacturer and a foreign part-
ner. This cooperation with Foton gives Daimler Trucks a key
presence in the Chinese truck market. BFDA’s products bear
the Auman nameplate. They cover the various market seg-
ments and are offered with engines ranging from 110 to 480
horsepower. The Mercedes-Benz OM 457 engine is scheduled
to be locally manufactured by BFDA beginning in 2016. Daimler
Trucks will benefit from this local production through parts
deliveries and licensing fees. In exchange, the OM 457 engine
will enable BFDA to comply with the stricter emissions regu-
lations that are to be introduced in Asia. The BFDA joint venture
sold 103,300 Auman trucks during the year under review.
In Russia, Daimler Trucks is benefiting from a modular system
within the framework of its partnership with Kamaz. Since 2013,
Mercedes-Benz Axor cabs have been installed in the new
generation of Kamaz trucks on the basis of supply and licensing
agreements. And since November 2012, Daimler Trucks has
been supplying diesel and natural-gas engines as well as axles
to Kamaz as part of a supply agreement. These measures
have substantially expanded the partnership, which also includes
two local joint ventures for the production and sale in Russia
of Mercedes-Benz trucks (Mercedes-Benz Trucks Vostok) and
FUSO trucks (FUSO KAMAZ Trucks Rus Ltd.). The 50 – 50
joint venture Mercedes-Benz Trucks Vostok is further developing
local production in Naberezhnye Chelny. Since November 2013,
that facility has been assembling and painting truck chassis
in order to increase flexibility and simplify cooperation with body
manufacturers.
In early 2013, MFTBC and Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. began
to supply each other with light trucks in line with their strategic
partnership agreement. Within this partnership, our product
range in Asia is supplemented by the FUSO Canter Guts, which
is known as the Atlas F24 model at Nissan. In return, Nissan
sells the FUSO Canter light truck under the model designation
NT450 Atlas.