LEINFELDEN-ECHTERDINGEN, Germany & DAKAR, Senegal--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jul 3, 2025--
Daimler Truck has signed a Letter of Intent with the Government of Senegal and Global Truck Systems (GTS) to establish a local truck assembly plant. As part of the agreement, Daimler Truck will serve as the exclusive supplier of dismantled truck kits (CKD – Completely Knocked Down) and act as the project’s technology partner.
This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250703313138/en/
The Senegalese government and GTS have formed a joint venture to lead the assembly operations. Production is expected to begin as early as 2026, with vehicles reaching customers the following year.
The plant will assemble various Mercedes-Benz truck model series, tailored for government use—such as the Ministry of Defense, fire brigades, and police—as well as private sector needs including waste collection, construction, logistics, and transportation.
Franziska Cusumano, CEO of Mercedes-Benz Special Trucks, highlighted the strategic importance of the initiative:
“The CKD delivery, transfer of know-how, and technical support reflect our partnership-based approach with the German Federal Government and the Republic of Senegal.”
Michael Dietz, CEO of Daimler Truck Middle East/Africa, added:
“This project signals our long-term commitment to West Africa. Through local assembly, job creation, and technology transfer, we aim to contribute to regional economic development.”
Strong German-Senegalese Partnership
Senegal has been a valued partner of German development cooperation for decades. Since 2019, both nations have worked under a bilateral reform partnership, which evolved into a climate and development partnership in 2023 through the Just Energy Transition Partnership. The CKD project is a direct outcome of this collaboration, promoting local industrial development and sustainability.
Senegal’s Commitment to Industrial Growth
The Senegalese government is supporting the project by providing industrial land, offering customs and tax incentives, and facilitating local workforce training. This initiative aligns with Senegal’s broader strategy to expand domestic production and meet growing mobility needs.
GTS: Operational Lead
GTS is responsible for setting up and operating the assembly plant. This includes recruiting and training personnel, planning production facilities, assembling vehicles from CKD kits, and equipping them with specialized bodies such as cranes or container frames. GTS will also oversee sales operations.
Daimler Truck’s Contribution
Daimler Truck will ensure a reliable supply chain, enforce quality standards, and manage technology transfer. The company will also provide long-term service support, ensuring the high quality of locally assembled vehicles. This project is expected to create qualified local jobs and boost industrial capabilities in the region.
Through this strategic partnership, Daimler Truck, GTS, and the Senegalese government are laying the groundwork for sustainable automotive manufacturing in West Africa, setting a benchmark for industrial cooperation, economic development, and technological advancement.
Further information on Daimler Truck is available at:
newsroom.daimlertruck.com and https://special.mercedes-benz-trucks.com/en/mercedes-benz-defence-trucks/general.html
Source:AETOSWire
From left to right: Général Birame Diop, Minister for the Armed Forces (Defence) ; Franziska Cusumano, CEO Mercedes-Benz Special Trucks at Daimler Truck ; Cheikh Ibrahima Cisse, President GTS Senegal (Photo: AETOSWire)
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump is meeting with oil executives at the White House on Friday in hopes of securing $100 billion in investments to revive Venezuela’s ability to fully tap into its expansive reserves of petroleum — a plan that rides on their comfort in making commitments in a country plagued by instability, inflation and uncertainty.
Since the U.S. military raid to capture former Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro on Saturday, Trump has quickly pivoted to portraying the move as a newfound economic opportunity for the U.S., seizing tankers carrying Venezuelan oil, saying the U.S. is taking over the sales of 30 million to 50 million barrels of previously sanctioned Venezuelan oil and will be controlling sales worldwide indefinitely.
On Friday, U.S. forces seized their fifth tanker over the past month that has been linked to Venezuelan oil. The action reflected the determination of the U.S. to fully control the exporting, refining and production of Venezuelan petroleum, a sign of the Trump administration's plans for ongoing involvement in the sector as it seeks commitments from private companies.
It's all part of a broader push by Trump to keep gasoline prices low. At a time when many Americans are concerned about affordability, the incursion in Venezuela melds Trump’s assertive use of presidential powers with an optical spectacle meant to convince Americans that he can bring down energy prices.
The meeting, set for 2:30 p.m. EST, will be open to the news media, according to an update to the president's daily schedule. “At least 100 Billion Dollars will be invested by BIG OIL, all of whom I will be meeting with today at The White House,” Trump said Friday in a pre-dawn social media post.
Trump is set to meet with executives from 17 oil companies, according to the White House. Among the companies attending are Chevron, which still operates in Venezuela, and ExxonMobil and ConocoPhillips, which both had oil projects in the country that were lost as part of a 2007 nationalization of private businesses under Maduro’s predecessor, Hugo Chávez.
The president is meeting with a wide swath of domestic and international companies with interests ranging from construction to the commodity markets. Other companies slated to be at the meeting include Halliburton, Valero, Marathon, Shell, Singapore-based Trafigura, Italy-based Eni and Spain-based Repsol.
Large U.S. oil companies have so far largely refrained from affirming investments in Venezuela as contracts and guarantees need to be in place. Trump has suggested on social media that America would help to backstop any investments.
Venezuela’s oil production has slumped below one million barrels a day. Part of Trump's challenge to turn that around will be to convince oil companies that his administration has a stable relationship with Venezuela’s interim President Delcy Rodríguez, as well as protections for companies entering the market.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Energy Secretary Chris Wright and Interior Secretary Doug Burgum are slated to attend the oil executives meeting, according to the White House.
Meanwhile, the United States and Venezuelan governments said Friday they were exploring the possibility of r estoring diplomatic relations between the two countries, and that a delegation from the Trump administration arrived to the South American nation on Friday.
The small team of U.S. diplomats and diplomatic security officials traveled to Venezuela to make a preliminary assessment about the potential re-opening of the U.S. Embassy in Caracas, the State Department said in a statement.
Trump also announced on Friday he’d meet with President Gustavo Petro in early February, but called on the Colombian leader to make quick progress on stemming flow of cocaine into the U.S.
Trump, following the ouster of Maduro, had made vague threats to take similar action against Petro. Trump abruptly changed his tone Wednesday about his Colombian counterpart after a friendly phone call in which he invited Petro to visit the White House.
President Donald Trump waves as he walks off stage after speaking to House Republican lawmakers during their annual policy retreat, Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
