Daimler has signed an agreement with Finnish commercial vehicle maker Oy Sisu Auto to supply and deliver Mercedes-Benz Truck components from its plant in Wörth, Germany from the beginning of next year.
 
Subject to a feasibility study Daimler will manufacture, bundle and supply frames, axles and drive shafts from its Actros model and transport them to Sisu’s facility in Karjaa. There the Finnish company will add frames, axles and drive shafts and assemble the trucks for sale under the Sisu brand for domestic distribution in the forestry and construction sectors.
 
The vehicles will be sold via the Veho Commercial Vehicles sales network in Finland.
 
Veho handles distribution, retail and aftersales services for passenger cars and commercial vehicles. It has been importing Mercedes-Benz passenger cars and commercial vehicles since 1939 and also sells the Fuso Canter and Setra buses in Finland.
 
Meanwhile, Daimler Trucks North America (DTNA) plans to produce 67% more heavy duty Class 8 trucks this month compared with July 2009 and is ramping up activity at its Gastonia components and logistics plant to support the increase at its Mount Holy and Cleveland production facilities in Carolina. It is reportedly the only US truck manufacturer currently increasing production capacity.
 
“Since the beginning of the year, DTNA has received more than 21,400 orders for trucks and school buses equipped with BlueTec emissions technology, including 16,565 orders for Freightliner trucks,” said Martin Daum, President and CEO of DTNA.
 
The company reports that because of the increase in orders it will have recalled approximately 540 workers at the manufacturing plants and at the Gastonia logistics facility by mid-July.
 
The recent increase in sales figures results from two major orders placed by US transport companies Western Express and Schneider National. Western Express ordered 900 Freighliner Cascadia trucks, while Schneider National ordered several hundred Cascadia trucks which will give both companies a predominantly Freightliner vehicle fleet.
 

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