Daimler Trucks sells nearly 500,000 units in 2014

Daimler Trucks will nearly sell 500,000 trucks in 2014. Despite partly difficult market conditions, the world's leading manufacturer of commercial vehicles succeeded in increasing deliveries to 445,300 units in the first 11 months of 2014, an increase by three percent over the same period last year.

Based on first December figures Daimler Trucks assumes to finish 2014 with a considerably positive sales growth reaching nearly 500,000 units. Final worldwide sales figures will be published at Daimler’s annual press conference on February 5, 2015. In 2013, Daimler Trucks sold about 484,200 vehicles of the Mercedes-Benz, Fuso, Freightliner, Western Star, Thomas Built Buses and BharatBenz brands.

"Our intense efforts in all regions are paying dividends. Despite many economic challenges in some key markets, we can look back on 12 successful months. With almost 500,000 trucks sold we are already coming very close to our target envisaged for 2015," said Dr Wolfgang Bernhard, Member of the Board of Management of Daimler AG responsible for Daimler Trucks & Buses.

For commercial vehicles, 2014 was dominated by developments that varied widely by regions. Weak economic prospects but also political uncertainties put a strain on the market development in Latin America. In Europe, sales were impacted by the lack of dynamic economic development in addition to the introduction of the new Euro VI emissions standards and the difficult political situation in Eastern Europe. The situation is very different in North America and Japan where Daimler benefited from the strong overall local business environment for commercial vehicles.

"We scored points with our strong products. With a strong sales team and vehicles perfectly tailored to the particular customer needs we managed to increase our market positions in many key regions," said Bernhard.

One major reason for the high market acceptance for trucks from Daimler is the extremely competitive total cost of ownership (TCO) of the vehicles, which is the most important argument for buyers of trucks as a capital good. Enhanced efficiency for the good of the customer is paramount in all regions, for all brands and for all vehicle models. This is especially true for the Actros certified to Euro VI standards in Europe, for the current NAFTA bestseller, the Freightliner Cascadia Evolution, and for the Fuso Super Great V in Japan. All three models are pioneers in terms of fuel efficiency.

About the prospects for the coming year Bernhard said: "With our global presence, our technological leadership and our intelligent platform strategy we are well prepared to react swiftly and appropriately to unpredictabilities in the economic environment. That is why we at Daimler Trucks will continue to work steadily on further expanding our position as the world's leading truck manufacturer in 2015."

Strong sales growth at Daimler Trucks North America (DTNA)
The growth of Daimler Trucks in 2014 was driven in particular by the positive development of sales in the NAFTA region and in Japan. In the NAFTA region, Daimler Trucks was again by far the market leader in the weight classes 6-8 with a market share of 37.3 percent (previous year: 38.8 percent). Sales in the first 11 months climbed to a record 147,200 vehicles (previous year: 124,000 vehicles). This corresponds to an increase by 19 percent over the same period last year.

In October, DTNA had the highest monthly order intake ever recorded by a manufacturer in the US truck business with about 31,300 orders received. Among others, strong momentum for order intake was provided by the Freightliner Cascadia Evolution, which impresses with the lowest fuel consumption in its segment and thus with a highly competitive total cost of ownership. Customers in North America increasingly value the advantage of an integrated powertrain from a single source like the one found in the Cascadia Evolution (pictured above): the engine, axles and transmission all come from Daimler Trucks. The company says the components are perfectly synchronised to each other and consequently increase fuel efficiency.

Significant sales increase in Japan

Sales in Asia developed positively overall in the past year. In Japan, sales in the first 11 months increased by 16 percent to 39,900 units (previous year: 34,400 units). In the total Japanese market, Daimler Trucks was thus able to defend its position with the Fuso brand and reached a market share of 20.3 (previous year: 20.2) percent. Deliveries of the new Fuso Super Great V heavy-duty truck started in September.

In Indonesia, sales dropped to 51,400 (previous year: 57,400) units due to the strong downturn in the market compared with the same period last year. Nevertheless, Daimler Trucks increased its market share to 47.2 (previous year: 46.7) percent. In the course of the product initiative, Fuso launched the new FI and FJ model series (MDT, HDT) in Indonesia. These vehicles are manufactured in India by the Daimler India Commercial Vehicles (DICV) as part of the group's Asia Business model. In December, DICV celebrated an important production milestone: The 20,000^th locally produced truck of the BharatBenz and Fuso brands rolled off the assembly line in Chennai (Southwestern India).

In India, five more models of the BharatBenz brand were launched over the course of the year. Sales in the first 11 months rose 61 percent to 9,700 (previous year: 6,000) units. The new product range of the BharatBenz brand is now sold by a network of around 80 dealerships and the expansion of the sales network continues as planned. Daimler says the acceptance of the young brand among Indian customers keeps growing: less than two years after the start of deliveries, BharatBenz has conquered third place in the market for heavy-duty trucks.

Market position in Western Europe further expanded

In Western Europe, Mercedes-Benz succeeded in slightly increasing its market share to 24.6 (previous year: 24.2) percent in a difficult market environment. Sales in the first 11 months totaled 50,500 units, thus remaining below the previous year's level (previous year: 56,800 vehicles). In addition to early purchases due to the introduction of Euro VI emission standards, this was also caused by the overall difficult economic development. In Germany, sales likewise decreased to 25,500 (previous year: 28,200) units as the result of the market climate. With a market share of 40.0 (previous year: 40.4) percent the company retained its leading position in the domestic market.

In Turkey, sales climbed to an 11-month record level of 18,900 (previous year: 17,100) units. The market share slightly dropped to 48.9 (previous year: 49.7) percent. The local Mercedes-Benz manufacturing plant in Aksaray was able to celebrate a special anniversary a few weeks ago: the 200,000th Mercedes-Benz truck made in Turkey rolled of its assembly lines.

Market share gains in Brazil

In Latin America, sales dropped considerably due to a lack of dynamic economic development. The key market Brazil was rather strongly impacted: sales in Brazil decreased to 31,300 (previous year: 37,300) units. Uncertainty prior to the elections in October, weak economic development and uncertainty about the coming structure of government financial incentives resulted in hesitant buying behaviour but Daimler Trucks expanded its market share to 26.0 (previous year: 24.4) percent in this difficult market environment.

To remain competitive in this market of strategic importance and be able to react flexibly to changes in the market, Daimler Trucks will invest well over 500 million euros in the production facilities, products and locations around Sugarloaf Mountain through 2018.

In China, Daimler Trucks is well on its way to sell roughly as many trucks of the Auman brand as in 2013 (previous year: 103,000) in a slightly declining total market. The first 11 months of this year saw sales of 89,800 Auman trucks (previous year: 94,000). These vehicles are manufactured by the Beijing Foton Daimler Automotive Co. Ltd. (BFDA) joint venture, in which Daimler and its Chinese partner Foton each hold 50 percent of the shares.

2014 highlight: Mercedes-Benz Future Truck 2025

The highlight of 2014 at Daimler Trucks was the Mercedes-Benz Future Truck 2025. The autonomously driving truck was presented at the 65th International Motor Show for Commercial Vehicles in Hanover in September. The Future Truck 2025 protects resources, reduces all types of emissions, guarantees maximum traffic safety and increases connectivity in road traffic. Radar sensors and camera technology make it possible for the Future Truck 2025 to drive autonomously independent from other vehicles or control centers. Mercedes-Benz combines this technology within the highly intelligent "Highway Pilot" system, a system similar to an autopilot in an aircraft.

"The Mercedes-Benz Future Truck 2025 epitomises efficiency, safety and connectivity like no other truck. Consequently, it provides relevant answers to the future challenges in road freight transport. That is why I am convinced that this technology will open up new business prospects for Daimler Trucks in the future," said Bernhard.