Daimler has summarised its truck sales for the first few months of the year. The manufacturer delivered nearly one tenth fewer vehicles to customers than a year earlier. In Europe, the decline was even more severe.
Daimler Group vehicle sales fell in the first quarter, in line with the company’s earlier expectations. The German manufacturer sold a total of 99,812 vehicles, which is 8 percent less than in the same period last year (108,911). Mercedes-Benz Trucks delivered 33,446 trucks in the period from January to March, down 18 percent compared to the previous year (40,838).
The Trucks North America segment also saw a decline in sales, from 46,229 vehicles to 38,992 in the first quarter of this year. Electric vehicles were also less popular, with 759 units delivered, down 7 percent year-on-year.
In turn, the Asian division – Trucks Asia – significantly improved its results, delivering 16 percent more trucks to customers than a year ago. Daimler Buses also recorded growth – by 11 percent, selling 6,206 vehicles in the first months of this year.
Daimler Truck also announced that its businesses in China and India will be integrated into the Mercedes-Benz Trucks segment as of 1 January 2025. The presentation of the results for the first quarter of 2025 and the adjusted comparative figures are already based on the new segment structure.
Billions in savings in Europe The group announced that full details of its financial and operating results for the first quarter will be presented on 14 May during an official presentation. At that time, Daimler will update its full-year forecasts and assess the impact of the strategies being implemented in individual markets.
Let us recall that Daimler Truck is planning significant savings in its European truck division. The “Cost Down Europe” programme is focused mainly on the German market, where the main challenge is rising labour costs. This is a response to falling sales and difficult market conditions. The company plans that by 2030 the programme will bring more than a billion euros in savings. The main goal is to reduce operating costs and increase business efficiency.
