The weakness of the market in North America in particular has led to a sharp decline in sales for the commercial vehicle manufacturer Daimler trucks taken care of. The DAX group sold 422,510 trucks and buses last year, as the company from Leinfelden-Echterdingen near Stuttgart announced on Friday. Compared to the previous year, this corresponds to a decrease of 8 percent.
In the North American market, which is so important for the Swabians, sales fell by 26 percent. The group only sold 141,814 vehicles there in 2025. The market in North America is weakening because shipping companies are currently holding back on ordering new vehicles. Because of US tariffs, among other things, it is difficult to estimate the transport volume that will occur in the coming years. In the fourth quarter alone, the decline in sales was 27 percent, similar to the year as a whole.
Asia is gaining ground
The Mercedes-Benz Trucks brand, which is primarily represented in Europe and Latin America, sold 159,871 vehicles last year, remaining at the previous year’s level. The Trucks Asia segment, however, increased its sales by 4 percent to 107,055 units. Sales of buses also increased slightly. Daimler Buses sold 26,991 vehicles, 2 percent more than in the previous year.
The commercial vehicle manufacturer has had a difficult financial year. Sales in the first nine months fell by 8 percent to 36.5 billion euros compared to the same period last year. Profit fell significantly, falling by 31 percent to around 1.57 billion euros. Daimler Truck plans to present figures for the entire 2025 financial year in mid-March. Then there should also be a forecast for the new year.
The group wants to become more competitive and has therefore launched, among other things, the “Cost Down Europe” savings program. CEO Karin Rådström (46), who has been in office for just over a year, is taking tough measures: By 2030, running costs on the home continent should be reduced by more than one billion euros Germany around 5,000 jobs will be lost. The Mercedes-Benz brand is particularly affected.
Savings should also be made in North America. According to previous information from CFO Eva Scherer (42), measures to reduce production capacity affect more than 2,000 jobs there.