Daimler AG plans to adapt its flagship Mercedes-Benz Actros heavy truck for China as part of an effort to increase global sales by 40 percent by the end of the decade, according to people familiar with the project.
Developed with joint venture partner Beiqi Foton Motor Co., the long-haul truck will be tailored for Chinese customers and go on sale in a few years, the sources said.
The vehicle would bring top-of-the-line Mercedes technology for fuel efficiency, driver comfort and safety to China in a sign that Daimler sees the market maturing.
China's truck market traditionally has been dominated by locally produced low-frills models. Upscale imported trucks haven't sold well in China, with its rough road conditions and costly replacement parts.
Florian Martens, a spokesman for Daimler's truck unit, declined to comment on the plan.
In 2012, Daimler established the local Auman brand with Foton. Boosting its presence in China is a cornerstone of the manufacturer's plans to lift annual worldwide sales to more than 700,000 trucks by 2020.
Last year, the company sold 500,000 trucks.
In addition to selling Mercedes trucks in Europe, Daimler is the market leader in North America with the Freightliner nameplate, while its Fuso unit sells medium-duty vehicles in Asia.
