Daimler India Commercial Vehicles (DICV) has announced a major leadership transition, naming Torsten Schmidt as the next Managing Director & CEO, effective early 2026. Schmidt will take over from Satyakam Arya, who has been selected as the designated President and CEO of Hino Motors, Japan.
At 53, Schmidt brings nearly three decades of experience with Daimler, having joined the company in 1997. He currently serves as the Chief Financial Officer of Mercedes-Benz do Brasil and has held key leadership positions across Germany, India, Japan, and Brazil. His background spans business transformation, finance, operations, and the entire commercial vehicle value chain.
Achim Puchert, CEO of Mercedes-Benz Trucks, praised Schmidt’s deep international expertise, strategic mindset, and financial acumen—qualities that make him well-suited to lead DICV in its next phase of growth. Puchert also acknowledged outgoing CEO Arya for his significant contributions to DICV and his strong customer-centric leadership.
Throughout his career, Schmidt has managed various production sites, sales networks, and central functions within Daimler Truck, Mercedes-Benz Trucks, and Daimler Truck Asia. Before his assignment in Brazil, he oversaw Finance and Controlling for Daimler Truck’s Asia operations from Japan.
In his upcoming role, Schmidt will report directly to Puchert and oversee DICV’s expanding operations, which include the manufacturing and sales of BharatBenz trucks, Mercedes-Benz coaches, and bus chassis. DICV operates a world-class production facility in Oragadam, near Chennai, and exports vehicles to more than 60 global markets.
This leadership shift underscores DICV’s continued evolution as an integral part of Daimler Truck’s global commercial vehicle strategy, reinforcing its commitment to innovation, operational excellence, and global market expansion.
