Mercedes looks East for truck ventures

Following in the tire tracks of fellow German car manufacturer Volkswagen, Mercedes-Benz, the luxury car division of giant auto company DaimlerChrysler AG, is planning to make its Actros trucks in China, according to a report in China Business Weekly. Quoting DaimlerChrysler's vice president of commercial vehicle operations in northeast Asia, Eduard Haakshorst, the report said that Mercedes is currently in talks with Beiqi Futian Automobile Co., an agricultural vehicle maker affiliated with Beijing Automotive Holdings. The report also mentioned that talks have resumed between Mercedes and First Automotive Works Corp, Volkswagen's partner in the Far East, to form a separate truck venture, the paper said.