Daimler Trucks says it has increased its global unit sales again in 2015
A third year of growth has seen Daimler Trucks pass the half a million sales milestone in 2015, a target the German manufacturer says it has been chasing for many years.
With full details to been unveiled on February 4 at the company’s annual press conference, Daimler says early December figures have pushed the divisions global sales passed 2014’s 495,700 figure and the sought-after 500,000 barrier.
“Thanks to our leading products we will deliver one of the best years in the history of Daimler Trucks despite some very challenging markets,” Daimler board member and truck and bus chief Dr Wolfgang Bernhard says.
“This is a great achievement by our global team.
“I thank all employees for their outstanding efforts.”
Encompassing the Mercedes-Benz, Fuso, Freightliner, Western Star, Thomas Built Buses, and BharatBenz brands, the Daimler division saw growth in North America and Europe, mixed numbers in Asia, and poor results out of Latin America.
North America recorded an annual sales increase of 20 per cent up to November, a figure that has Daimler predicting a sales record for 2015.
The company says its regional market share has also jumped to 39.1 per cent in the 6-8 weight classes on the back of drivetrain success, specifically with the DT12 automatic transmission.
“More than 40 per cent of Freightliner Cascadia and Western Star 5700 XE are now sold with automatic transmission systems – around twice as many as in 2014,” the company says.
Because of the jump, Daimler announced it will begin producing the transmission system in Detroit from November.
In Western Europe, Daimler says the Mercedes-Benz brand continues to hold a market share lead in the medium- and heavy-duty segments of 21.9 per cent.
Brazil hampered numbers in Latin America, with truck deliveries in the country up to November down from 31,300 last year to 15,200 in 2015.
Total numbers from the region fell from 44,500 units to 27,900.
In Asia, Japan fared well for Daimler, which grew its market share and Fuso’s unit sales numbers.
Daimler also saw sales grow by 29 per cent in India thanks to the ongoing rise of BharatBenz trucks, which launched in September, 2012.
However, numbers out of Indonesia saw a decline from 51,400 units to 29,400.
Next step
While conditions “remain challenging in 2016”, Bernhard says Daimler Trucks can achieve its next goal of 700,000 trucks in 2020.
“To sit back is not an option for us,” he says on the company’s future. “For this purpose, we will again demonstrate our technology leadership in the IAA year 2016.”
“For example we will proceed with important developments for example in terms of vehicle connectivity but also when it comes to efficiency, active safety and autonomous driving.”
Daimler is already trialling a number of driving assistance solutions, including the semi-autonomous Highway Pilot system, which the company says could arrive shortly.
“The Highway Pilot has already completed around 20,000 kilometres on test routes in Germany and the USA,” Daimler says.
“It is conceivable that the technology will be ready to go into production in the next two to three years.”
Daimler is also expanding its reach, with the launch of new centres in Kenya, South Africa (Pretoria), and Singapore scheduled for the first quarter of 2016.
The company also opened a new centre in Dubai in October.