A major shift in India’s commercial vehicle landscape is on the horizon as Daimler India Commercial Vehicles (DICV), the wholly owned subsidiary of Daimler Truck AG, gears up to introduce the electric eCanter light-duty truck to the Indian market within the next six to twelve months. This bold maneuver signifies DICV’s entry into the nation’s burgeoning light duty truck segment, with a keen eye toward sustainability and innovation in logistics.
As per Satyakam Arya, the Managing Director and CEO of DICV, the initial fleet of the groundbreaking eCanter trucks will be brought in from Japan. Subsequently, the company aims to assemble the vehicles domestically at their Oragadam plant, branding them under the BharatBenz name. Arya noted that the company is open to the idea of localizing the production process given that there is enough market demand to justify the decision.
Treading carefully before a full-scale roll-out, DICV is presently in the advanced stages of trial runs with a select two to three trucks. These trials are set to expand to include a handful of customers, though specific details about production plans and the exact specifications of the trucks, including tonnage, remain under wraps for now.
Arya accentuated that the introduction of the eCanter is but the first step in DICV’s extensive blueprint to decarbonize its complete range of products. However, he also acknowledged the present-day reality where both internal combustion engine (ICE) trucks powered by diesel and emerging green technologies are projected to coexist in India for some time to come.
In line with this dual approach, Arya forecasts that Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG), though not the ultimate goal, might serve as a transitional solution for long-distance transportation. The organization’s efforts will more so focus on the proliferation of battery-electric and hydrogen-based propulsion technologies within its future offerings.
DICV isn’t new to the hydrogen realm. The company has already ventured into this space, orchestrating the development of a hydrogen fuel cell concept coach in collaboration with a prominent Indian conglomerate. Anticipating the future, DICV has plans to roll out a variety of trucks that will cater to multiple segments, including long-haul distribution, mining, construction, as well as the ready-mix concrete sphere, each customized to meet the diverse requirements of cargo and topography.
The eCanter has evolved since its first-generation commencement in Japan in 2017, now proudly in its third generation, boasting a significant market presence across Europe, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, and Hong Kong with over 100 variants. Daimler Truck has experienced a positive trajectory with more than 2,500 eCanters sold, covering a gross weight range from 3.5 to 7.5 tonnes and accruing over eight million kilometers. The previous year saw more than 1,600 units sold, and according to Karl Deppen, Daimler Truck Asia Head, numbers are set to climb even higher in the ongoing year.
The push for cleaner energy use extends beyond regional ambitions. Andreas Gorbach, the Head of Daimler Global Truck Technology, outlined Daimler Truck’s global objective: to achieve carbon neutrality for its new trucks and buses within Europe, Japan, and the U.S.A. by 2039 and worldwide by 2050. Gorbach, however, alluded to the intricacies of this commitment, emphasizing the reliance on various external factors such as charging and refueling infrastructure availability, access to green energy, achieving cost equivalence, and broad customer adoption.
In the near term, Daimler’s concentration with the eCanter is to ensure product and service excellence, closely coupled with securing customer acceptance. Reflecting on the two overarching global trends of decarbonization and digitization, Gorbach indicated that investments in diesel are still on Daimler’s horizon, with intentions to remain competitive through a consolidated and diversified portfolio.
The impending debut of the eCanter in India marks a pivotal step in DICV’s steadfast quest towards a cleaner, greener future in commercial transportation. As the industry gazes into a horizon streaked with the lights of electrification and digital innovation, DICV is revving up to lead the charge in revolutionizing the roads of India and beyond.
