Mercedes-Henschel
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Hanomag link?
from a special correspondent • West Germany's problem of too many lorry makers chasing a limited market has given rise to yet another suggested merger— or at least an agreement on very close collaboration. Daimler-Benz AG and Rheinstahl revealed this week that they are having talks aimed at a formal collaborative arrangement covering Mercedes-Benz trucks on the one hand and Henschel/ Hanomag on the other.
Financial problems in the big Rheinische Stahlwerke AG steel and construction group are said to have led to the approach to Daimler-Benz. Henschel's truck manufacture was taken over several years ago by Rheinstahl, but has not been integrated with the group's own Hanomag production at the lighter end of the truck range.
Daimler-Benz took over Krupp's faltering service outlets in 1968; if Henschel and Hanomag are now to be considered for absorption, or even for close working agreements on production, some drastic rationalization seems inevitable. There is a considerable overlap in the medium and heavy range between the Mercedes and Henschel trucks, while Mercedes and Hanomag have similar-weight models in the lighter market. Hanomag vehicles run from about 2 tons gross to 9 tons gross, Henschel from just over 10 tons to 38 tons.
Daimler-Benz, of course, dominates the home market with about 50 per cent of total truck saies.