Daimler plans to buy key parts for its Mercedes-Benz brand commercial vehicles from Japanese subsidiary Mitsubishi Fuso Truck and Bus from 2014, Daimler officials said at the weekend.
It would be the first time for Mitsubishi Fuso to supply auto parts to the parent since it came under the wing of the German company in 2004, Jiji Press reported.
Mitsubishi Fuso will provide Daimler with axle parts, such as gears and brake pads, made at its plant in Kawasaki, Kanagawa Prefecture, south of Tokyo, the officials said.
The parts will be delivered to Daimler’s commercial vehicle parts plant in Kassel, central Germany, which has press and welding machines, for further processing, the officials said.
Daimler is boosting operational efficiency partly through mutual parts supplies between its manufacturing bases across the globe. The planned parts procurement from Mitsubishi Fuso is based on the strategy, according to the officials.
Mitsubishi Fuso is now owned about 89% by Daimler and the rest by Mitsubishi group companies in Japan.

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