Our AUTONEWS maker is Daimler Truck Southern Africa (DTSA) President and Chief Executive Officer Michael Dietz. Michael is a man on a mission. He is championing the expansion of Daimler brands into Southern Africa. He is a career Daimler man
Early in his 20s and working at Daimler, Michael Dietz realized he had found a company to devote his career to. He began working at what was then known as Daimler-Benz AG as a sales trainee.
Michael has always alternated between the organization's headquarters, functions, and markets.
The Southern African position met his desire because the area was home to Mercedes-Benz Buses and four of Daimler's truck brands, including Western Star, Freightliner, Fuso, and Mercedes-Benz Trucks.
He was eager to accept this position since, according to Daimler Trucks & Buses, the Southern African region is one of the most crucial globally. Michael had not anticipated that his appointment would take place at the same time as a pandemic, which he has spent much of his first year in Africa navigating.
His wealth of experience spanning over 20 years reads like the bible of commercial trucking. He has been Head of Global Marketing Mercedes-Benz Trucks, Head of Sales, Marketing and Services Mercedes-Benz Special Trucks, Director Governmental Business, Diplomats, Special Vehicles, Head of Key Account Management Mercedes-Benz Trucks, Sales Manager Mercedes-Benz Vans & Trucks among other positions.
One of his main responsibilities in the position is bringing new goods and services to market. In addition to the Actros, the company will introduce new models in the Fuso and Mercedes-Benz Bus lines in 2021. Another first for this year is the region-wide rollout of Fleetboard, its telematics system, as standard for Mercedes-Benz Trucks.
According to Michael, the company's unmatched brand portfolio sets it apart from its rivals. It enables us to target entire markets as opposed to certain segments or applications, he says.
While Fuso is a highly dependable workhorse, a suitable product for almost all applications and segments, Mercedes-Benz is the luxury brand driven by innovation, safety, and technology. Additionally, it is ingrained in our DNA to provide the full value chain alongside our dealer partners. We don't just offer products; we also provide services like financing, connectivity, telematics, uptime, and a used truck company. We provide an all-inclusive service from one source to our esteemed clients," he said
The fact that DTSA employs individuals from over 30 different countries offers it an additional advantage. Michael recognizes how crucial this is given his long tenure with the organization.
Because our brands operate in more than 180 markets, he continues, we must make sure we act internationally. Our team is the actual star with a diverse, multicultural, and knowledgeable bunch of people he proudly said of his team.
He is championing the Fuso brand into Southern Africa. Zimbabwe will benefit from his wealth of experience as he embarks on the regional journey of expansion.
He recently oversaw the launch of the robust and rugged yet comfortable FUSO TV33-400S in Johannesburg, South Africa. The launch seems to mark the beginning of regional expansion strategy as it was attended by international media
FUSO is accustomed to operating vehicles in challenging circumstances because it has overcome social, international, and economic difficulties. Every Fuso vehicle is built with this tenacious attitude at its core.
Today, FUSO has over 20 years of history in South Africa, is present in 170 markets worldwide, and proudly claims a sales and service footprint through its prestigious dealer and general distributor network in 9 southern African nations. The Fuso range is locally put together on the fully integrated production line at its plant in East London using products acquired from two highly regarded worldwide manufacturing sites.
Offering top-notch after-sales services and high-quality items is the company's dedication to its patrons. Because of this, it has continuously added new products with appropriate purposes since 2014. It created industry history in 2014 when it introduced the Canter Leaf Grade, an automated manual transmission.
In order to meet the constantly changing needs of our devoted customers, the company has added a variety of medium-duty and heavy-duty trucks since 2015. Fuso was the first commercial vehicle manufacturer to introduce the E Canter, an all-electric car, to South Africa in 2020, showcasing its unwavering dedication to environmentally friendly transportation options.
Customers have been able to enjoy a heritage thanks to Fuso's lengthy journey, and the company is still shining brilliantly with a varied portfolio that offers practical solutions for light, medium, and heavy duty truck applications. FUSO is not just for the now but also for the future.
FUSO, simply better trucks.
This year, FUSO achieved a fleet deal of 250 trucks in Zimbabwe. With the signing of the agreement, 250 FUSO vehicles will be added to the fleet run by Baker's Inn, a well-known bakery. General distributor ZIMOCO handed over the first 50 vehicles for Baker's Inn to the customer in May 2022 during a ceremony held at their sales headquarters in Harare.
The FUSO trucks come with all the comforts that make the driver feel in charge of his office. It is also able to withstand all the rough terrain you can think of.
Daimler Truck Southern Africa President and Chief Executive Officer Michael Dietz expressed the company’s regional expansion plans in order to increase its market share.
"We found out in the past that it does not make sense just to be in charge of South Africa because the majority of our customers are running international operations on the one hand," he said.
"On the other hand, there are a lot of logistics transport mining companies located in Zimbabwe, Zambia, Mozambique, Namibia, and Botswana doing business in South Africa as well. This is why we have to situate our headquarters. It might be even better to have a regional approach in place, and this is what we kept here."
Daimler Truck Southern Africa is currently busy building up a new headquarters in Centurion, South Africa. The company creates and manufactures trucks and buses through our global network, which are sold under the names BharatBenz, Freightliner, FUSO, Mercedes-Benz, Setra, Thomas Built Buses, and Western Star.
"This is the home for our financial services colleagues as well. Our East London production plant is where we are provided with all the components and kits for all the products we are selling and servicing within this region," he said.
"All the products are getting delivered to our customers."
The corporation, which has more than 40 production facilities worldwide and employs more than 100,000 people, is among the biggest producers of commercial vehicles.


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