Mercedes-Benz, Freightliner, and Fuso trucks to all feature the same electronic module for monitoring vehicle condition and real-time communication.
German automotive giant Daimler has announced a new strategy to streamline its truck division through the standardisation of electrics and electronic architecture.
The company says the move will allow it to integrate electronic modules and innovations across the Mercedes-Benz, Freightliner, and Fuso brands more efficienctly and more cost effectively.
Daimler Trucks chief Dr Wolfgang Bernhard says the company has already standardised the powertrains fitted into the company’s brands, and synchronising the electronic components is Daimler “implementing defined measures step by step”.
“At Daimler Trucks, our strategy is working out,” he says. “And we are systematically developing it further.”
“We are already profiting like no other manufacturer from the technological and financial potential of our multi-brand engine and transmission platforms.
“We are now tackling the next components: chassis and electrics/electronics.”
According to the company, the electronics strategy will see it introduce “completely newly developed, standardised connectivity hardware for all of its trucks.”
The new development will include the installation of a module, about the size of a A5 sheet of paper, into all vehicles.
The module will act as “the heart of the connected truck”, providing real-time data for external communications, while also reading and evaluating data from all of the truck’s sensors, cameras, radars, and more.
Daimler says the device can communicate via Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, 4G, GPS, and USB, to infrastructure, other vehicles or other parts of the logistics chain.
The module will also offer access to the telematics systems of FleetBoard and Detroit Connect.
In terms of the look of brands, Daimler says the cabs will remain unique.
“While the instrument cluster with speedometer, rev counter, fuel gauge etc. retains the brand-typical appearance of a heavy-duty Mercedes-Benz, Freightliner or Fuso truck, its inner workings and rear housing will have standardised dimensions and connections,” the company says.
With the brand already looking towards integrating all of its new trucks into the Cloud by 2017, Bernhard says the benefits of connected vehicles, produced in sync, will be felt by both Daimler and its customers.
“Customers in the market will profit from this standardisation due to the quick availability and first-class quality of the relevant truck technologies,” he says.
“For Daimler Trucks, it will result in significant synergy advantages and free resources, which in turn can be used for new technology projects.”