Since taking the helm as President and Group CEO of Daimler Truck Southern Africa (DTSA) on 1 April 2024, Maretha Gerber has led the business through a period of growth, transformation and meaningful engagement with customers, employees and industry stakeholders. As the first woman to hold the position in the company’s history, she has brought a leadership approach grounded in collaboration, authenticity and a deep understanding of the transport and automotive sectors.
Over the past two years, Gerber has gained valuable insights into the opportunities and challenges shaping the Southern African market, while helping to strengthen DTSA’s position as a leading commercial vehicle manufacturer. Drawing on more than two decades of experience across the Daimler and broader automotive environment, she has championed a culture of partnership, innovation and customer focus. In this interview, she reflects on the lessons learned, milestones achieved and her vision for the future of DTSA and the industry it serves.
Could you give us some insight into the current operations of Daimler Truck as we enter into the second half of the year?
As we celebrate 130 years of Mercedes-Benz Trucks, we are also entering an exciting new chapter as DTSA now forms part of the Daimler Truck Latin America, Middle East and Africa (LAMEA) region. Under this new structure, DTSA is now integrated into Daimler Truck Middle East Africa, which creates opportunities for greater collaboration, knowledge sharing and regional synergies, while maintaining the strong individual local focus that our customers and partners have come to expect.
Locally, our focus remains firmly on our customers and providing the right transport solutions for their unique operational needs. Key priorities include building momentum behind the recently launched Mercedes-Benz Actros Base and Line Haul models, as well as further strengthening our used-truck offering through the newly opened TruckStore West Rand facility. Customers continue to prioritise fuel efficiency, reliability and maximum uptime and we remain committed to meeting these needs through our comprehensive range of products and value-added services.
Beyond our products and services we are focused on becoming simpler, faster and stronger across the business, ensuring that we continue to respond effectively to customer needs while supporting the industries that keep Southern Africa moving.
With over six decades of operations in South Africa, what do you believe the secret to longevity has been and what makes you stand out from the competition?
Daimler Truck’s story began more than 130 years ago with the invention of the truck and today we remain one of the world’s leading commercial vehicle manufacturers. In South Africa, DTSA has been operating for over six decades, guided by our purpose, For all who keep Africa Moving. While our products are renowned for their quality, reliability and durability, for us it has always been about far more than selling trucks and buses. We provide a comprehensive range of services, digital solutions and support, including Daimler Truck Financial Services, FleetBoard, Uptime, Daimler Truck Parts Online and My TruckPoint, to help our customers operate more efficiently, productively and cost-effectively, while maximising vehicle uptime.
What are some of the struggles you currently face, both internally and externally? How are you using those challenges to future-proof the business?
Like many businesses in the commercial vehicle sector, we operate in a highly competitive environment shaped by economic pressures and evolving customer expectations. As customers focus on reducing costs and maximising efficiency and uptime, we are focused on becoming simpler, faster and stronger while enhancing the customer experience through digital solutions. Through initiatives such as the Mercedes-Benz Actros Base and Line Haul models, TruckStore West Rand and My TruckPoint, we are focused on helping our customers improve productivity and operational efficiency. These initiatives not only help us respond to current market conditions but also position us for sustainable growth in the years ahead.
What have been some of the successes in 2026 so far?
As mentioned earlier, 2026 has been a landmark year as we celebrate 130 years of Mercedes-Benz Trucks globally. Key highlights include the successful launch of the new Mercedes-Benz Actros Base and Line Haul models, the opening of our new TruckStore facility in the West Rand, in addition to its head office in Centurion and the introduction of My TruckPoint, a digital platform designed to simplify fleet operations and improve productivity. We are also proud to be recognised as a Top Employer for the fifth consecutive year and Automotive Industry Leader for the fourth consecutive year. While these milestones are significant, we believe success is also built on the everyday achievements across our business, from delivering exceptional customer service and supporting our dealer network to improving operations and working together as a team. These contributions collectively strengthen our organisation and drive our continued success.
How has Daimler Truck embraced transformation? What have been some of the success stories to date?
Transformation is not just a compliance requirement for DTSA, it is a strategic priority that underpins our commitment to building a sustainable, inclusive and future-focused business. As a Level 1 B-BBEE contributor, we are committed to creating opportunities through skills development, employment equity, leadership programmes and our Enterprise and Supplier Development (ESD) Programme. We have also supported nearly 400 young people through the Youth Employment Service (YES) programme, providing valuable workplace experience and creating pathways to permanent employment. Through our ESD Programme, we continue to support qualifying businesses with development assistance, specialised equipment and commercial vehicle contributions, helping to enable entrepreneurship, business growth and long-term economic impact.
Could you give us some examples of Daimler Truck’s CSR initiatives?
As a business, we recognise that our responsibility extends beyond selling trucks and running a successful operation. Through our global Daimler Truck Cares programme and local initiatives, we focus on making a meaningful impact in health, education, safety and community development.
Our flagship Trucking Wellness programme supports thousands of truck drivers through free health screenings, wellness education and preventative healthcare services, including eye testing. We also continue to invest in education, having renovated classrooms, a computer laboratory and a library at Sinethemba High School in East London in partnership with Sandown Commercial Vehicles Centurion and Gift of the Givers. In addition, we recently donated R250,000 to the Chris Burger Petro Jackson Players’ Fund.
Together with the many community projects and volunteer initiatives driven by our employees, these efforts reflect our commitment to creating a positive and lasting impact beyond our business operations.
What are your goals for the future at Daimler Truck?
Our ambition is clear: to be the commercial vehicle partner of choice in Southern Africa and to contribute to Daimler Truck’s vision of being the best truck and bus company in the world. This ambition is underpinned by our long-standing commitment to our customers, which remains at the heart of everything we do. By understanding their evolving needs and supporting their business success, we continue to build trusted partnerships that drive mutual growth.
Looking ahead, our focus will remain on sustainable growth, operational excellence, digitalisation and transformation. The transport industry is evolving rapidly, driven by technological advancements and changing customer expectations. While innovation is critical, our approach is always guided by what creates real value for our customers. Our responsibility is not simply to adopt technology, but to ensure we bring solutions to market that are practical, relevant and support the long-term success of our customers and their businesses.
Ultimately, our goal is to continue building a stronger, more agile and customer-centric organisation that is well positioned for the future while remaining true to our purpose of keeping the world moving.
What is your message to potential investors as we head towards 2027?
As we look towards 2027, we do so with confidence in the strength of our business, our people and our strategy. Daimler Truck Southern Africa is built on a solid foundation of globally trusted brands, deep industry expertise and a long-standing commitment to our customers and the markets we serve. Despite an evolving business landscape, we remain focused on sustainable growth, operational excellence and delivering long-term value for all our stakeholders. Through continued investment in innovation, digitalisation, transformation and customer-focused solutions, we are positioning ourselves for the opportunities of the future. We believe that the Southern African region holds significant potential and we are committed to remaining a resilient, agile and forward-looking organisation that continues to keep Southern Africa moving.