DaimlerTruck boss Martin Daum (62) currently sees no signs of a slowdown in the truck market. The demand is unbroken, he told the Reuters news agency on Monday in Hanover on the sidelines of the IAA Transportation commercial vehicle trade fair. “The moment we open order books, it fills up immediately.”
Deliveries could have been a five-digit number higher in the past and current year if the supply situation had been better. The industry is now benefiting from this: the supply bottlenecks would have prevented record sales in 2021 and 2022. “After a record sale, the crash comes down.” The situation could change if there was a domino effect. “But this time we won’t be the pioneers as an industry,” said Daum.
At the same time, it is possible to pass on the rising costs to customers in the form of higher prices, said Daum. The profit margin has recovered after a decline in the winter half-year and is now back within the target range of between seven and nine percent.
Daimler trucks presented its first heavy electric truck at the commercial vehicle fair. By 2030, the share of electric and fuel cell loads could increase to up to 60 percent of total sales, said Daum. It is difficult to make a more precise forecast, which depends on energy prices. The truck, which has a range of up to 500 kilometers, uses lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries.
Ideas for battery manufacturing in Europe
Almost all the batteries needed worldwide are currently coming from the Far East, said Daum. In this context, he campaigned for battery production in North America and Europe. It is still too early to speculate about locations; The decisive factor here is the availability and price of electricity. “There I see Germany at a clear competitive disadvantage when I look at energy prices.”
Different models are currently being tested to find a good solution for the production of Daimler batteries. “I don’t rule out anything in the relationship,” said Daum. “It will definitely be a creative idea.” A decision can be made within two years.