Daimler India Commercial Vehicles Limited (DICV) has announced a planned leadership change set to take effect in early 2026. The company said in its announcement that Torsten Schmidt, currently Chief Financial Officer of Mercedes-Benz do Brasil, will assume the role of Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer. The development follows the company’s 4 November announcement that current Managing Director and CEO Satyakam Arya has been designated as President and CEO of Hino Motors in Japan from 1 April 2026.
Schmidt, aged 53, will succeed Arya as part of Daimler Truck’s leadership realignment linked to the planned Mitsubishi Fuso–Hino Motors integration. His appointment will align with Arya’s transition to Tokyo to lead Hino Motors’ global operations. “Torsten is an experienced and respected leader whose global and intercultural expertise are matched by a proven ability to deliver results,” said Achim Puchert, CEO Mercedes-Benz Trucks. He stated that Schmidt’s “strategic vision, financial proficiency, and comprehensive knowledge of the entire value chain” make him suited for the position.
The 4 November announcement outlined Arya’s impact at DICV, noting record profitability across trucks and buses, a doubling of the customer base, and expansion of the dealership network from 182 to more than 385 locations. The company also highlighted its transition to one hundred percent renewable energy, its IGBC Green Factory Building V2 certification, and safety and product initiatives including ECE R29-03 cabin compliance, the TorqShift automatic manual transmission tippers, and the HX Series. “India’s commercial vehicle industry is entering a transformative decade,” Arya said, expressing confidence in DICV’s momentum.
Schmidt joined Daimler in 1997 after completing studies in Industrial Engineering and Management in Germany and the United Kingdom. Over twenty-eight years, he has held senior roles in Germany, India, Japan, and Brazil across production operations, sales structures, and central functions at Daimler Truck, Mercedes-Benz Trucks, and Daimler Truck Asia. The company said he has led business transformation initiatives across Asia, Europe, and Latin America. Before his current assignment in Brazil, he oversaw Finance and Controlling for Daimler Truck’s business in Asia while based in Japan. In his new role, he will report to Puchert.
The company added that it remains committed to its growth plans and ongoing investment in India.
DICV, a subsidiary of Daimler Truck AG, manufactures and sells BharatBenz trucks and buses and produces vehicles and components for export.
