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Daimler Trucks AG expects to achieve €400 million in savings through sourcing from the best cost country like India and another €200 million through manufacturing optimisation by 2030, said C Muthu, President & Chief of Operations & Logistics, Daimler India Commercial Vehicle (DICV) Daimler’s relationship with India goes back to 1954, when it launched its first trucks in partnership with Tata. The journey evolved over decades and culminated in 2009 with the establishment of DICV, a 100 per cent subsidiary of Daimler Truck AG, headquartered in Oragadam, near Chennai. Since then, the company has rolled out over 2,00,000 vehicles for the domestic market, exported 73,000 trucks and buses to more than 70 countries, and shipped 63,000 aggregates to Daimler entities worldwide. In addition, 300 million parts from over 400 local suppliers in India find their way into Daimler’s global supply chain, he said at the India Maritime Week 2025 held last week in Mumbai. Speaking to businessline, he said, “Looking ahead, DICV plans to scale up its operation by 2030, targeting production of over 60,000 vehicles annually for domestic and export markets. There will be significant savings by way of India-sourcing components, he added. Muthu credits four key enablers for DICV’s success in Chennai — thriving supplier ecosystem in and around Chennai, skilled and agile workforce, strong road, rail, and port infrastructure and business-friendly government that streamlines operations. “These have allowed us not only to serve Indian roads but also to turn Oragadam into a manufacturing and export powerhouse,” he said. “The momentum is real,” said Muthu. “We’ve already shipped 73,000 vehicles across the world. With Tamil Nadu’s next-gen maritime infrastructure and a collaborative ecosystem, the next 70 countries are within reach,” he said. Chennai and Ennore ports have played a pivotal role in DICV’s export success. Their proximity to the company’s manufacturing base allows efficient logistics and reduced turnaround times. Muthu also pointed out, growth at this scale will require focused collaboration across the logistics ecosystem. “We need port capacity that can absorb volume surges, dedicated RoRo berths for automotive exports, and seamless road and rail connectivity from Oragadam to the ports,” he said. “Predictable vessel schedules and competitive port tariffs are no longer aspirations — they’re prerequisites for global competitiveness,” he added. Published on November 3, 2025
