Mercedes takes on the Japanese
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• Daimler-Benz is the first non-Japanese manufacturer to exhibit heavy commercial vehicles at the Tokyo Motor Show.
Last week, at the city's 27th international motor show, Mercedes-Benz Japan, a wholly-owned subsidiary set up by D-B in January last year, displayed a number of CVs on its stand, including two Bremen models, an 0303 coach and a 3850 6x4 heavy haulage tractive unit powered by a 373kW (500hp) vee-ten Mercedes engine.
Klaus Oertel, president of Mercedes-Benz Japan, says that he already has customers for all the vehicles, in spite of their relatively high prices.
If the negotiations with Mitsubishi over the sale of M-B trucks and buses through its Japanese dealer network are finalised, up to 1,000 Mercedes commercials could be sold annually within three years.
II A full report on the Tokyo Show appears in next week's Commercial Motor.