Mexico needs to replace one-third of trucks says Daimler boss

Gerhard Gross

MEXICO CITY -- Mexico needs to replace a little over one-third of its commercial fleet (34% to 38%) which are older than 20 years, says Gerhard Gross, president and CEO of Daimler Commercial Vehicles Mexico. He made the comments recently during a lecture at Anahuac University, where Daimler has endowed a chair in Culture and Education.

Daimler operates two heavy truck plants in Mexico. Gross stated that the Saltillocan plant, opened in 2008, produces 110 Cascadias per day and the Santiago plant, opened in 1991, produces 99 medium-duty Freightliner models per day. These numbers will increase over the next three to six months with added shifts and hiring, according to Gross.

Although production and sales are good in Mexico, financial institutions are keeping credit tight in the automotive sector. Gross also alluded to the impact that a newer commercial fleet would have on public safety.

From El Universal Some info from Daimler.