Daimler Commercial Vehicles makes S'pore its regional centre

DAIMLER Commercial Vehicles has made Singapore its South-east Asian regional centre - one of six around the world - to manage 18 markets.

The world's biggest commercial-vehicle manufacturer owns brands such as Mercedes-Benz Trucks, Fuso and Freightliner. It used to manage the region from its group headquarters in Stuttgart, Germany through Daimler South-east Asia, which also takes care of the Mercedes-Benz passenger car business.

But it is now decentralising to get closer to its various markets and realise their full potential.

"We are making decisions without asking headquarters; we are the headquarters," said Kay-Wolf Ahlden, head of Daimler's South-east Asia Regional Centre. "This is the fundamental change."

Staff strength will grow from 12 to 52 as employee functions from other locations are transferred to Singapore.

The Republic's logistics and communications strengths were key in Daimler's decision to base its hub operations here, said Wolfgang Bernhard, Daimler board member for trucks and buses.

"It has a stable, reliable regulatory framework; laws are being followed," added Dr Bernhard. "This legal framework is conducive to doing business."