Daimler Truck, in collaboration with the government of Senegal and Global Truck Systems (GTS), is set to establish a truck assembly plant in Senegal. This partnership, formalized through a letter of intent, will see Daimler Truck providing vehicle component sets for local assembly, with operations expected to commence in 2026.
As part of the agreement, Daimler will be the exclusive supplier of completely knocked down (CKD) kits for the assembly of the trucks. The joint venture formed by the government and GTS will operate the assembly plant on-site.
The Mercedes-Benz truck model series is planned for assembly at the plant, catering to both the private sector and governmental entities such as the Ministry of Defense, fire brigades, and police.
Franziska Cusumano, CEO of Mercedes-Benz Special Trucks, expressed enthusiasm about the project, stating, “With this project, our vehicles will enter the Senegalese market in close coordination with the German Federal Government. The delivery of CKD kits for on-site assembly, the transfer of know-how, and comprehensive technical advice are our contributions to a successful, partnership-based cooperation.”
The assembly plant project is supported by the Foreign Office of the Federal Republic of Germany. The Senegalese government’s contributions include providing industrial land, tax and customs relief for CKD imports, and supporting local specialist training.
This initiative aligns with Senegal’s industrial policy and represents a significant step towards establishing locally anchored automotive production in West Africa. GTS will oversee the project’s economic, technical, and industrial implementation, including local recruitment, personnel training, production facility planning, and assembling vehicles from CKD kits.
Michael Dietz, CEO of Daimler Truck Middle East/Africa, emphasized the company’s long-term commitment to West Africa through this collaboration. He stated, “With the relocation of the assembly plant, the creation of qualified jobs, and the transfer of technological competences, we will be able to make a joint contribution to economic value creation in the region.”
In addition to this project, Daimler Truck recently partnered with DHL Group and hylane to introduce fully electric trucks into DHL’s fleet.
The establishment of the truck assembly plant in Senegal signifies a significant milestone in the automotive industry, fostering economic growth and technological advancement in the region.
