Beijing Foton Daimler Automotive Co., Ltd. (BFDA), a 50-50 joint venture between Daimler and Chinese manufacturer Foton Motor, recently celebrated the 150,000^th production unit of the companies’ jointly produced Auman branded trucks. This production milestone shows that BFDA is an important pillar within Daimler Trucks’ global product and production strategy, with China being an integral element of this, according to Daimler.

The first Auman branded truck produced by the joint venture rolled of the production line at its production facility in a suburb of Beijing in July 2012. In 2013, BFDA sold about 103,300 units, equaling a 34-percent year-over-year growth rate, the highest growth among China’s top five medium- and heavy-duty-truck manufacturers, according to Daimler.

Going forward, BFDA plans to expand its production footprint in China. A Mercedes-Benz heavy-duty engine plant is expected to be built later this year at BFDA. The engine plant will produce Mercedes-Benz OM457 engines, which will be installed into Auman products to further diversify and upgrade BFDA’s product portfolio. The company expects additional momentum by a further expansion of the dealer network that consisted of about 450 outlets by the end of 2014.