Daimler Trucks North America announced Feb. 8 that it has established a new Light Commercial Vehicle Team, combining the resources of Sterling Truck Corp.’s Class 3-5 lines and Mitsubishi Fuso brand low cab-over engine (LCOE) operations in North America.
The Light Commercial Vehicle operation will be based in Redford, Mich., and will focus on the sales, marketing, product strategy and distribution of the Sterling 360, the Sterling Bullet and Mitsubishi Fuso Class 3-7 LCOE trucks. This alignment allows Mitsubishi Fuso to take full advantage of the resources and synergies that come with being associated with Daimler Trucks North America, the company says.
“This business model, which leverages DTNA’s extensive capabilities and expertise, is consistent with other Daimler units globally,” says Chris Patterson, chief executive officer of Daimler Trucks North America. “With its considerable resources and expanded coverage, this new team will strengthen DTNA’s presence in the growing light commercial vehicle market in North America.”
The new Light Commercial Vehicle group will be responsible for developing business with nearly 400 dealers: those that represent the Mitsubishi Fuso brand and the select Sterling dealers that sell the Sterling 360 and Bullet. A strong brand focus and respective dealer networks will be maintained in order to serve the unique needs of Sterling Trucks and Mitsubishi Fuso customers in North America, the company says.
Matthew Stevenson, formerly director of the Sterling Light Commercial Vehicle group, will head up the new team. “This new group is an excellent match for the future,” Stevenson says. “With the additional expertise, our expanded resources and a growing market, we see unlimited potential for this new organization and growth for the Mitsubishi Fuso and Sterling brands.”
