Page 107 - CO April 2017 Full Issue

REPORT ‘Cool bonus’ for truck drivers Daimler India Commercial Vehicles continues to advocate mandatory AC in trucks SPOTLIGHT Latest simple, blower-based replacement proposal is not an actual alternative as it does not give same level of benefts as air conditioning system. According to Erich Nesselhauf, MD and CEO, Daimler India Commercial Vehicles “Air conditioning in trucks is not a comfort or luxury feature – it can help prevent serious accidents as it helps the drivers to stay ft and focused during long hours even in the most adverse environmental conditions.” Daimler India Commercial Vehicles (DICV) continues to advocate the mandatory introduction of AC (air conditioning systems) in trucks as an important step to boost trafc safety across India. Consequently, the company does not to additional fuel consumption: non-AC in the Indian market. It currently produces support the latest proposal by the majority trucks are typically driven with open and sells above 9 to 49 tons trucks for the of India’s commercial vehicle makers to windows, which significantly drives up Indian volume market, under the brand replace true AC with a simple, blower-based wind drag and hence fuel consumption. BharatBenz. BharatBenz stands for Indian system. Said Erich Nesselhauf, Managing In direct comparison, efcient AC trucks engineering with German DNA. Under its Director and CEO, Daimler India can even ofer a better mileage. Feedback bus division, the company produces and sells Commercial Vehicles: “Air conditioning from BharatBenz AC truck customers BharatBenz buses and Mercedes-Benz buses in trucks is not a comfort or luxury feature also indicates that AC trucks cover more from its manufacturing plant at Oragadam. – it can help prevent serious accidents as kilometers every day due to less driver Bharat-Benz products have been engineered it helps the drivers to stay ft and focused fatigue. Tis adds to the overall proftability to serve all major customer segments with during long hours even in the most adverse for truck customers. As GST opens up state a focus on total-cost-of ownership, safety, environmental conditions.” borders and logistics become even more reliability and comfort. Trucks including With regard to the technical aspects of the efcient, transporters will beneft from these knocked-down vehicle kits as well as buses proposed blower-based system, Nesselhauf extra miles every day. With AC making the and bus chassis produced for the FUSO continued: “The only advantage of this workplace safer for truck drivers especially brand and the Mercedes-Benz brand are blower system is that it is cheap – it ends during long-distance hauling, BharatBenz exported to more than 30 markets in right there. Tere is technically no way how also expects to see some positive efects on the Middle East, Africa, Asia, and Latin it could bring the cabin temperature down the transportation sector’s ability to attract America. below outside temperature, so it does not new drivers, not least due to the strong The state-of-the-art production plant at provide any meaningful benefts to keep the competition from other industries like the Oragadam near Chennai spreads over driver alert and ft. In fact, a blower unit will growing ride-hailing services. BharatBenz 400 acres (160 hectares) and was opened actually increase the temperature and dust expects a complete AC rollout to lead to in 2012. Te site is also home to DICV’s level inside the cabin.” economies of scale, which should bring headquarters and R&D operations, and down the cost quickly throughout the entire features a highly modern test track. DICV BharatBenz & AC – quick facts industry - as the most recent example of the has made an overall investment of more BharatBenz has been selling AC throughout mandatory requirement of ABS (Anti-Lock than `5,000 crores. In August 2016, less its 9-49 ton range from day one onwards. Braking System) has demonstrated. than four years afer the start of production, As BharatBenz vehicles are sold only as the milestone of 50,000 produced vehicles fully built vehicles, customers can rely on DICV at a Glance was crossed – an unprecedented ramp-up in the hassle-free experience of a perfectly Daimler India Commercial Vehicles the Indian commercial vehicle industry. integrated AC system ex-factory. (DICV) is a 100 per cent subsidiary of BharatBenz is continuously working to Daimler AG, Stuttgart, Germany. DICV For more details visit: remove the misconception that AC leads is a full-fedged commercial vehicle player Website: www.bharatbenz.com u APRIL 2017 |construction opportunities 109