Sisu and Daimler AG enter joint venture

2011 will see a joint venture between Daimler AG and Sisu, with components for Mercedes benz trucks being shipped to Karjaa in Finland, where Oy Sisu Auto Ab. is based. Sisu will provide axles, frames and drive-shafts, whilst the cabs, transmissions and engines will be supplied by Daimler, form the Mercedes-Benz Actros range, and the volume is projected to be between 200 and 400 vehicles a year, contingent upon the results of a 'feasibility study'. At present the Sisu range of commercial vehicles is based upon the Premium cab by Renault, but at the moment it is speculation as to whether this range will continue, or be phased out. Similarly, the engines in Sisu vehicles are currently manufactured by Caterpillar, but whether that will be continued in tandem with the new Actros-based range is, at this juncture, mysterious. A press release stated that the trucks will marketed and sold by the Sisu brand, and that the feasibility study will be complete by the end of 2010.

Hubertus Troska, head of Mercedes-Benz trucks, has said:

We are delighted that Sisu has selected us as a supplier of high-quality components. Sisu is a traditional brand known for first class trucks. Once the feasibility study has been successfully concluded, we will be able to open up a new area of business and generate additional sales potential for our vehicle components.

The press release went further, stating:

The vehicles will be sold via the Veho Commercial Vehicles sales network in Finland. The Veho Group Oy Ab. has been importing Mercedes-Benz passenger cars and commercial vehicles since 1939 and also sells the Fuso Canter and Setra buses in Finland. The market for medium-and heavy-duty trucks in Finland encompassed about 2,600 units in the crisis year of 2009 (approx. 3,500 trucks are sold in a normal year). There were around 390 new Mercedes Benz trucks delivered, giving thee brand a market share of 15%. Following the conclusion of the feasibility study, the future delivery of all key components to the independent truck manufacturer Sisu will particularly benefit the VEHO Group Oy's workshop network, as VEHO Group Oy also maintains and repairs SISU vehicles in its role as general representative for Mercedes Benz commercial vehicles. In addition, it is expected that Mercedes-Benz's share of this Scandinavian truck market would increase.