Market becomes competitive on entry of new vehicle firm

A range if FotonDaimler trucks that are coming to Tanzania. PHOTO | FILE 

By Samuel Kamndaya, The Citizen Reporter

In Summary

• Germany-based automotive corporation Daimler AG is cooperating with Foton Motors to launch FotonDaimler automotive company in Tanzania

Dar es Salaam.  A German-Chinese company, which designs and manufactures trucks, buses, sport utility vehicles and agricultural machinery, is officially entering the Tanzanian market next month.

Daimler AG, Germany-based multinational automotive corporation which produced Mercedes Benz,  is cooperating with Foton Motors, a top sales enterprise of commercial vehicle in the world, to launch FotonDaimler automotive company in Tanzania.

A statement from the company’s offices in Dar es Salaam noted yesterday that the official launch will be held in the city on May 14 where transporters, bank representatives, fuel suppliers and various cargo owners among others will be in attendance.

According to the statement, the cooperation between Daimler and Foton dates from 2009 when  leaders of Germany and China signed a memorandum of understanding that spelt out how they should cooperate in the manufacturing of commercial vehicles including trucks.

Under the cooperation, the CEO of the company is being changed in the turn of three years from Germany and China.

Armed with a total investment of RMB 6.35 billion (about $1 billion) and with an annual production capacity of 200,000 vehicles plus a factory with first model plant in China, Daimler and Foton believe they have what it takes to conquer the market of heavy duty truck in Tanzania.

“Besides, our factory in China has technicians from Mercedes-Benz who are involved in the designing and production of quality trucks,” the statement said.

The company has on its list an Auman GTL tractor - a TL heavy truck - which was unveiled on September  17, 2012.

Created by FotonDaimler, the Auman GTL tractor is powered by Mercedes-Benz OM457 engine. The company’s TX heavy trucks are reliable, safe, high load-bearing capacity and long driving range. The company’s trucks are sold complete with a warranty of two years or first 200,000 kilometres.