Daimler Trucks labour chief wants clean tech investments in Germany
FRANKFURT, Feb 13 (Reuters) - Daimler Trucks, which is beingspun off by its parent group later this year, should invest muchof a 1.5 billion euro ($1.8 billion) fund for cleanertechnologies in Germany, works council chief Michael Brecht saidon Saturday.
Daimler announced the fund on Feb. 3 alongsideplans to spin off the world's largest truck and bus maker, as itseeks to increase its appeal to investors as a focused electric,luxury cars business.
Daimler Trucks has operations around the world and lastApril announced a fuel joint venture with Sweden's Volvo Trucks.
In an interview with the Stuttgarter Zeitung newspaper,Brecht was asked how the German staff he represents wouldbenefit from the fund.
"We will develop proposals for new projects for individualsites, with which we can support additional employment and thechange to new drive technologies," he replied.
Asked whether the money could be used for investments suchas U.S. autonomous driving software start-ups, Brecht said: "Themoney is not for any old acquisitions."
As for potential spending in Sweden for the Volvo venture,he said: "The fuel cell drive system will have to be produced atone of our (German) sites. There is no doubt about that."
Daimler Trucks chief executive Martin Daum told Reuters onTuesday that a full line of zero-emission commercial vehiclescould be ready by 2027, but deploying them needed freshinvestments. He also highlighted growth opportunities in China,India and other markets such as Indonesia.
($1 = 0.8252 euros)(Reporting by Vera Eckert. Editing by Mark Potter)
