Daimler Group is to begin production of its Mercedes-Benz Actros truck in Brazil from 2011, as the company makes efforts to meet growing demand for its trucks in the country.
The Mercedes-Benz Actros will be built at the Juiz de Fora Plant.
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Back in March, Mercedes-Benz do Brasil announced that it would be increasing the production capacity of its plant in São Bernardo do Campo by 2012 in order to meet the growing demand for commercial vehicles in Brazil.
With the addition of manufacturing at the Juiz de Fora plant, Mercedes-Benz Trucks’ flagship vehicle will be manufactured in the plants at Wörth in Germany and Aksaray in Turkey, as well as in Brazil.
The company said that the move will enable it’s Brazilian unit to respond more quickly and flexibly to the growing demand for trucks in Latin America, particularly in the rapidly expanding heavy-duty segment.
“The decision to incorporate the Juiz de Fora plant into our production network for Mercedes-Benz commercial vehicles ensures that the location will be part of the Daimler family for the long-term and offers the employees good prospects,” said Jürgen Ziegler, president of Mercedes-Benz do Brasil.
The traditional manufacturing location in São Bernardo do Campo will continue to serve as the centre of the production network in the future.
Trucks sales have been booming again in Brazil since the second half of 2009 and has become Mercedes-Benz’s most important truck market worldwide. In the first six months of the year, Mercedes-Benz Trucks sold 56,300 units worldwide. Of these, 21,700 units were sold by Mercedes-Benz in Brazil, putting it ahead of Germany, Turkey, and France.
“The economy has noticeably improved in various areas since the beginning of the year. Examples include the high investment in infrastructure and construction projects, the increased transport volume among wholesalers as a result of the rise in private consumption, and the growth in demand for freight capacity in various segments of the commercial vehicle business,” said Ziegler.
The introduction of the Actros 2546 LS 6×2 and 2646 LS 6×4 has increased Mercedes-Benz do Brasil’s lineup of heavy-duty trucks to 21 models.
