German-Japanese handshake: Hino boss Ogiso, Toyota boss Sato, Daimler’s Asia board member Deppen and the boss of Daimler Trucks, Daum (from left)
Image: EPA
Toyota is the largest car company in the world, Daimler Truck is the largest commercial vehicle manufacturer. Now the two giants are doing something together: It’s about new drives – and China.
Martin Daum seems almost euphoric when Toyota boss Koji Sato gives him the stage. He has now been in the business for three decades, but today really is the greatest day of his career, the Daimler Truck CEO told the journalists gathered in Tokyo.
Tim Kanning
Correspondent for business and politics in Japan based in Tokyo.
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Gustave parts
Business correspondent in Stuttgart.
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The world’s largest automaker and the world’s largest commercial vehicle manufacturer want to merge their Japanese truck divisions. The aim is to jointly conquer the Asian market, become less dependent on China and – perhaps most importantly – share the development costs for engines that should no longer emit greenhouse gases.