Germany-based automaker Daimler has opened its first regional centre for commercial vehicles for the Mena region in Dubai, UAE, which will support 19 countries - from Morocco to Pakistan.

Daimler Commercial Vehicles Mena (DCV Mena) will be responsible for the group's full commercial vehicles portfolio in the region – from the Mercedes-Benz Citan city van to the heavy-duty Mercedes-Benz Actros truck. The upcoming reuptake of commercial vehicle activities in Iran will also be managed from Dubai.

"Our new Regional Center will allow us to respond even faster and better to the needs of our customers. It focuses entirely on the commercial vehicle business. We are convinced that this new setup is an important step to benefit further from the growth potential of this region in the sales and after-sales business," said Dr Wolfgang Bernhard, member of the Board of Management of Daimler AG responsible for Daimler Trucks & Buses, at the opening of DCV Mena in Dubai.

The regional centre will be responsible for managing sales activities in the following markets: Afghanistan, Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Tunisia, UAE and Yemen.

The new regional centre is located in the Jebel Ali Free Zone in Dubai, which is operated by the Jebel Ali Free Zone Authority (Jafza).

DCV Mena is the first of six regional centres being opened for Daimler's commercial vehicles business around the world. Similar bases will also follow for Central Africa, Southern Africa, South Asia, Southeast Asia and Latin America within the next few months. Until now, Daimler had managed these regions primarily from its group headquarters in Stuttgart.

Further decentralization will keep the business even more in tune with the market. The many years of product and service-related expertise pay off in this respect just as much as the broad portfolio of products offered by the group's various commercial vehicles brands.

The DCV Mena Regional Centre offers Mercedes-Benz trucks, and FUSO vehicles, Mercedes-Benz vans as well as Mercedes-Benz and Setra buses.

Roland Schneider, president & CEO of Daimler Commercial Vehicles Mena said: "The new regional center is a clear sign of our commitment to the region. The markets of the Mena region are very important to us, and offer substantial potential for growth. Today's opening in Dubai therefore represents the next logical step."

The three biggest sales markets in the region for Daimler's trucks, vans and buses are the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Egypt. These three countries account for approximately two thirds of all deliveries in the Mena region. Between 2011 and 2014, unit sales of trucks, buses and vans in the region grew by an average of 23 per cent p.a. In 2014 the group sold 45,900 commercial vehicles in the region.

Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem, chairman, DP World and Chairman of Ports, Customs and Free Zone Corporation said: "We are pleased with Daimler AG's decision to establish its new Regional Center for commercial vehicles in Dubai.”

“As a world-class facilitator and logistics hub, we are committed to provide our customers all the support needed to make their operations seamless. Our conviction and approach is in line with the vision of Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to position Dubai as the most favoured investment destination in the world,” he added. – TradeArabia News Service