Schmitz Cargobull AG Und Dongfeng Motor Corporation Planen Gemeinsame Aktivitäten
Press Release
2011-114
Schmitz Cargobull AG
Schmitz Cargobull AG and Dongfeng Motor Company Ltd. plan joint activities
At the Shanghai Motor Show, the Boards of Management of both companies signed a letter of intent (LOI) regarding future cooperation of semitrailers in the Asian markets
Münster / Shanghai 20.04.2011: At this year's largest Asian motor show, the current negotiations between the German company, Schmitz Cargobull AG and the Chinese Dongfeng Motor Company Ltd. - a company in the Dongfeng Motor Corporation Group - came to a successful conclusion. The management - represented by Andreas Schmitz and Ulrich Schöpker (both Board Members of Schmitz Cargobull AG) and Tong Dongcheng (Deputy General Manager Dongfeng Motor Corporation and Vice President Dongfeng Motor Company) and Huang Gang (Representative of Dongfeng Motor Company and General Manager Dongfeng Commercial Vehicles) - agreed to establish a joint venture for semitrailers and truck bodies in the heavy long-distance and distribution transport sectors.
Both companies rank among the leading manufacturers of commercial vehicles in the industry and, thus, see an opportunity for major synergies for further expansion with innovative transport solutions in the globally growing transport market. The initial goal consists of a high-quality production according to state-of-the-art industrial standards as well as a dense sales and service network with innovative services in the People's Republic of China. "Dongfeng is the leading truck manufacturer in China and Schmitz Cargobull the leading semitrailer manufacturer in Europe. The combination of the best truck with the best semitrailer will provide the greatest value for our customers with a one-stop shopping solution," stated Huang Gang, General Manager Dongfeng Commercial Vehicles.
As a continually increasing volume of goods is forecast for both the inner-Asian markets and also for export, new transport concepts for the local road networks are required. These consist of technological changes to the
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transport vehicles. Schmitz Cargobull Board Member Andreas Schmitz:
“we are seeing a great opportunity brought by the growing transport market of China. The initial goals of the joint venture consists of high-quality production according to state-of-the-art industrial standards as well as a dense sales and service network with innovative services in the People's Republic of China."
In Europe these modular vehicle combinations have become a firmly established part of the highly developed transport and logistics chains. This is the core competence of Schmitz Cargobull AG, which also offers its customers one of the most comprehensive ranges of service "in and around the vehicle" in addition to the vehicles themselves.
With the new, strategic expansion on the Asian markets, Schmitz Cargobull's management is actively reacting to the global demand for modern commercial vehicle concepts. "Dongfeng Motor Company Ltd. is a partner which matches our strategy with regard to both high quality and also customer-oriented engineering. With our innovative know-how in the trailer construction sector and Dongfeng's own customer-specific know-how in China's markets we want to pursue the expansion in these markets together", stated the Schmitz Cargobull Board Member, Ulrich Schöpker.
The European market leader, Schmitz Cargobull, possesses a comprehensive range of know-how for trailers and bodies in a diverse spectrum of transport sectors including: - general cargo, - temperature-controlled freight (foodstuffs), - bulk goods and - intermodal (containers). Dongfeng Motor Company is one of the largest manufacturers in the world and possesses comprehensive expertise in the truck and tractor sectors. Both companies are distinguished by high quality standards, sustainable resource usage and efficient vehicle production. This focus offers customers the benefit of the optimal use and availability of the vehicles as well as low life cycle costs (LCC) and total cost of ownership (TCO).
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Background:
About Schmitz Cargobull AG:
The German company, Schmitz Cargobull AG was established in 1892 as a forge. Today the company has developed into the European trailer and body manufacturers with the highest turnover in the commercial vehicle branch. Schmitz Cargobull produces its products at seven industrial manufacturing sites in Europe. It serves all of the sales markets in Europe, the Near and Middle East with its own sales structure and an authorised service partner network. Employing more than 4,500 people and with a turnover of approx. 1.2 billion euros for the 2010/2011 business year (01.04. - 31.03.), Schmitz Cargobull is the European market leader. In the 2010/2011 business year Schmitz Cargobull produced approximately 36,000 vehicles.
The commercial vehicles product range covers:
- Box trailers, trailers and bodies for foodstuffs and valuable goods in the
dry freight and refrigerated transport sector,
- Platform semitrailers and curtainsider semitrailers for general cargo and
commercial products (beverages, paper, steel)
- Tipper semitrailers for bulk goods in the commercial and agricultural sectors,
- Container semitrailer chassis and swap-body trailers for intermodal
transport.
A complete package of services rounds out the company's portfolio:
- Cargobull Finance – leasing and hire-purchase,
- Cargobull Parts & Services – service and spare parts, Full Service contracts
- Cargobull Service Partners – repairs and maintenance,
- Cargobull Telematics – trailer telematics
- Cargobull Trailer Store – used-vehicles
About Dongfeng Motor Corporation:
Founded in 1969, Dongfeng Motor Corporation (hereafter referred to as DFM), formerly known as Second Automobile Works Co., is one of the three largest automotive producers in China. Its main businesses include passenger vehicles, commercial vehicles, engines, automotive parts and components, and equipment. In more than 40 years of development a series of R&D and manufacturing facilities have been established as well as an extensive distribution and after-sales network, with the business office based in Hubei while covering the whole region. The major business facilities are located in Shiyan, Xiangfan, Wuhan and Guangzhou. In addition, several branches are located in Shanghai, Liuzhou (Guangxi), Yancheng (Guangxi), Nanchong (Sichuan), Zhengzhou (Henan), Urumchi (Xinjiang), Chaoyang (liangning), Hangzhou (Zhejiang), Kunming (Yunnan), etc.
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Dongfeng Motor Company, estabished in 2003 by Dongfeng Motor Corporation and Nissan Motor Company with a 50:50 equity structure, is the largest automobile joint venture in China up to date. Dongfeng Commercial Vehicle Company is a medium and heavy-duty commercial vehicle business division under Dongfeng Motor Company and has 42 years history in manufacturing vehicles. Its sales volume of 2010 is 313 thousand vehicles, among which 249 thousand are middle and heavy trucks. After 8 years joint operation, the company has now developed to the largest medium and heavy truck manufacturer of China.
End of the press release.
The Schmitz Cargobull press team:
Gerd Rohrsen:Tel. : +49/2558/ 81-1323
Andrea Ewering:
Silke Hesener
Fax: +49/2558/ 81-1287
Number of words: 894
Number of characters (with spaces): 6.908
(From left to right)
3rd A. Schmitz (signing), 4th U. Schoepker, 6th Tong Dongcheng, 7th Huang Gang (signing)
