FRANKFURT (dpa-AFX) - The continuing hope for less stringent regulations on the phase-out of combustion engines had a noticeable effect on commercial vehicle manufacturers' shares on Thursday. Daimler Truck shares rose 3.6 percent to the top of the DAX, further boosted by a buy recommendation from US research firm Morningstar. In the MDAX, Traton shares rose 2.7 percent.
Daimler Truck and Traton stood out positively with their share price gains against the mixed stock market environment and also against the shares of passenger car manufacturers: Volkswagen, Mercedes-Benz, and BMW posted significantly more moderate gains.
Once again, the topic of discussion was that the European Union is considering a five-year postponement of the ban on combustion engines. This continues the speculation about a relaxation of the ban. According to reports, several European automotive nations are exerting "massive pressure." They argue that the phase-out, originally planned for 2035, is too radical and jeopardizes one of the most important industries in Europe.
Under these circumstances, stock market analysts see catch-up potential in the truck sector, as Daimler Truck and Traton shares had struggled to achieve a positive annual performance in 2025 until November. Only a rally in recent weeks has brought the two stocks into positive territory for 2025.
Shares in Volkswagen, BMW, and Mercedes have performed significantly better so far this year. Only Porsche AG, the sports car manufacturer that has been relegated to the MDax, has so far been unable to follow the positive automotive trend.
