LEINFELDEN-ECHTERDINGEN (dpa-AFX) - A softening US market and declining bus sales have led to another drop in volume for Daimler Truck. In the first quarter, the commercial vehicle manufacturer sold 68,849 trucks and buses worldwide, according to a company statement from Leinfelden-Echterdingen. This represents a nine percent decline.
The US subsidiary recorded the sharpest drop in sales. Volume fell by 25 percent to 29,432 vehicles in the first quarter. The market is weakening as freight companies hold back on ordering new vehicles. Due in part to US tariffs, it has become difficult to estimate transport volumes for the coming years.
In contrast, sales of Mercedes-Benz Trucks rose by 13 percent to 34,486 vehicles. The company did not provide a reason for this development upon request. Bus sales fell by a fifth to 4,972 vehicles from January to March. The manufacturer offered no explanation for the slump in this segment.
Daimler Truck intends to provide further details on sales and business performance for the start of 2026 when it publishes its quarterly results on May 6.
Profit slump last year
The commercial vehicle manufacturer is under pressure. Profit plummeted by 34 percent year-on-year in 2025 to two billion euros. US tariffs and weak demand in North America weighed heavily on the business. Revenue fell by nine percent to approximately 49.5 billion euros. Sales volume had already declined by eight percent in 2025, with Daimler Truck selling 422,510 trucks and buses last year.
To improve competitiveness, Daimler Truck launched the "Cost Down Europe" savings program last year. The initiative aims to reduce operating costs on its home continent by more than one billion euros by 2030. Consequently, approximately 5,000 jobs are expected to be cut in Germany, primarily affecting the Mercedes-Benz brand. Cost-cutting measures are also planned for North America./ols/DP/nas
