VietNamNet Bridge – The decision by the Ministry of Transport (MOT) to examine the loading of vehicles on the roads has helped boost sales of trucks.

With the new rule, MOT showed its strong determination to tighten control over vehicles in circulation.

As vehicles are not allowed to carry a volume of goods higher than their designed capacity, transport firms will need more trucks to serve customers.

Mercedes Benz Vietnam (MBV), well known as a luxury sedan manufacturer, has decided to join the truck market after taking over the distribution network from Vinastar, which has been operating in Vietnam for 20 years.

MBV is now in charge of distributing medium-level Mitsubishi Canter HD trucks.

Nguyen Duy Doan, a senior executive of MBV, said the manufacturer would market Fuso brand products, which have been a success for MBV in Indonesia.

Doan believes that the domestic truck market would provide great opportunities in the near future.

To make Fuso trucks, MBV integrate Japanese technology into its assembling line in Vietnam, allowing it to make three product lines, including light trucks of 3.5-6 tons, medium-level trucks (16 tons) and heavy trucks (40-50 tons).

MBV reportedly is considering expanding its network of authorized sales agents to increase the sale of Fuso products in Vietnam this year.

“As many as 761 trucks were sold last year, while the figure is expected to be higher this year. About 1,000 Fusos will be sold in 2014,” Doan said.

The CEO of Ford Motor Vietnam, Jesus Metelo Arias, has also predicted that the demand for medium-level trucks would rise sharply in the next months as a result of the Ministry’s decision.

He believes that transport firms will have to buy more vehicles to satisfy transportation demand.

Mai Phuoc Nghe, sales director of Thaco, noted that in the past, transport firms, Thaco’s biggest customers, usually wanted trucks with engines more powerful than they were initially designed, so as to be able to carry more goods.

They now tend to order trucks with engines fitting the configuration.

Nghe said representatives of some big transport firms had contacted him, seeking  information about prices before placing new orders.

Other brands are also available on the market. The Japanese Hino is a popular brand in in Vietnam. Hino Motors Vietnam has launched the Hino 300 series, a light truck model, for VND600-725 million, nearly the same as the Fuso, about VND600 million. The company is also providing a medium-level Hino 500 series.

In addition, Thaco has marketed medium-size 8-18 ton trucks with Hyundai and Auman brands. Meanwhile, Isuzu Vietnam in May marketed a 9-ton NQR75M model which has a longer bodyshell than similar trucks, which make goods loading easier.

Chinese models, such as Dongfeng, Sinotruk, FAW, JAC and Chenglong, with lower prices, are the biggest rivals of these brands.