The new entity will be responsible for the group's full commercial vehicles portfolio in the region – from the Mercedes-Benz Citan city van to the heavy-duty Mercedes-Benz Actros truck. The upcoming reuptake of commercial vehicle activities in Iran will also be managed from Dubai.

"Our new Regional Center will allow us to respond even faster and better to the needs of our customers. It focuses entirely on the commercial vehicle business. We are convinced that this new setup is an important step to benefit further from the growth potential of this region in the sales and after-sales business," commented Dr. Wolfgang Bernhard, member of the Board of Management of Daimler AG responsible for Daimler Trucks & Buses, at the opening of DCV MENA in Dubai.

DCV MENA is the first of six regional centers being opened for Daimler's commercial vehicles business around the world. Similar bases will also follow for Central Africa, Southern Africa, South Asia, Southeast Asia and Latin America within the next few months. Until now, Daimler had managed these regions primarily from its group headquarters in Stuttgart.

This year experts predict somewhat weaker economic dynamics and general economic growth of only 2.5% in the region. But from 2016 to 2019 the expansion rate in the region should rise to more than 4% on an annual average.

Roland Schneider, president & CEO of Daimler Commercial Vehicles MENA underlined: "The new Regional Center is a clear sign of our commitment to the region. The markets of the Middle East and North Africa are very important to us, and offer substantial potential for growth. Today's opening in Dubai therefore represents the next logical step."

The three biggest sales markets in the region for Daimler's trucks, vans and buses are the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Egypt. These three countries account for approximately two thirds of all deliveries in the MENA region. Between 2011 and 2014, unit sales of trucks, buses and vans in the region grew by an average of 23%. In 2014 the group sold 45,900 commercial vehicles in the region.

The Regional Center will be responsible for managing sales activities in the following markets: Afghanistan, Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Yemen. The Center is located in the Jebel Ali Free Zone in Dubai, which is operated by the Jebel Ali Free Zone Authority (JAFZA).