---

Sales of MB & Volvo Trucks in Japan on the Rise

27 July 2000

    Tokyo - Sales of large imported trucks by Mercedes Benz and Volvo have been
showing a sharp increase in Japan.  According to Volvo Japan, their sales are 
expected to reach 300, which is about three times the figure in 1999.  MB trucks 
is targeting their year 2000 sales at a little over 400, which would also be 
triple their sales figure in the previous year.
    
    The increase in sales and interest in these imported trucks is because the
vehicles have proved to be highly fuel efficient with low maintenance costs, 
while also benefitting from Japan's latest exhaust regulations that brought up 
prices of domestic trucks. Volvo has moved up their annual sales target from 
250 to 320 and increased their service facilities to 300 to improve aftersevice.  
DaimlerChrysler hopes to bring their annual truck sales up to 2,000 in the next 
five years.