Maximilian Habisreutinger is a regular customer, as it is written in books. “We order three to five trucks from Daimler Truck every year,” says the managing director of the wood center in Habisreutinger. Floors, doors, fences, facades – the company based in Weingarten near Lake Constance specializes in wood products; Habisreutinger needs correspondingly large vehicles. The company, which is now in its sixth generation, has been ordering from Daimler for over 100 years, he says.
But now the picture-book relationship between the truck manufacturer and the wood specialist is getting a scratch. The fact that Habisreutinger will probably have to wait until February 2023 for three trucks to be ordered is annoying. Above all, he is angry because Daimler wants more money for the vehicles ordered in December 2021. 88,060 euros were agreed for each of the Mercedes-Benz Actros. Now Daimler demands 90,820.80 euros. The manufacturer justifies the 3 percent surcharge with problems in the supply chain, high price increases for steel, for example, and the sharp increase in transport costs.
He is aware of the geopolitical situation, “of course it’s all understandable,” says Habisreutinger. But at the end of 2021, his dealer strongly recommended that he place the order for 2022 before the turn of the year. A little later, he was warned, price increases were imminent. Habisreutinger bought.