Best sales result in the past decade: Daimler Trucks sells well over 500,000 trucks in 2018

In News, Daimler3 MinutesBy NZ Trucking magazineJanuary 4, 2019

Daimler Trucks achieved one of the best sales years in its history in 2018. Based on initial data, unit sales of the Mercedes-Benz, FUSO, Freightliner, Western Star, Thomas Built Buses and BharatBenz brands increased to well over 500,000 vehicles in 2018 (2017 figure was 470,700). Daimler AG will announce the exact sales figure at its annual press conference on 6 February. In a generally positive market environment, the Daimler Group’s trucks division had already increased its unit sales by 11 percent to approximately 466,900 units by the end of November, significantly more than in the same period of the previous year (January to November 2017, 422,500).

“2018 was one of the most successful years in the history of Daimler Trucks. As previously announced, our worldwide unit sales are significantly higher than in the previous year. With well over 500,000 trucks, we have achieved our highest unit sales of the past 10 years,” said Martin Daum, member of the board of management of Daimler AG responsible for Trucks & Buses. “This success shows that we offer our customers around the globe strong products backed by an equally strong team.”

Daum said he would like to thank all his colleagues for their outstanding commitment over the past year.

“In 2019, we will continue pursuing the goal of making our customers – and ultimately society as well – more successful every day with innovative transport solutions. This also includes the technological transformation of our industry, which we are resolutely pushing forward with automated, electric and connected trucks.”

Most of Daimler Trucks’ largest sales markets developed positively in the past year, with the highest growth achieved in the NAFTA region. Sales of the Freightliner, Western Star and Thomas Built Buses brands increased by 15 percent to a total of approximately 172,700 units in the first 11 months (prior-year period 150,600). With a recent market share of 38.3 percent in weight classes 6 to 8, Daimler Trucks was by far the undisputed market leader for medium- and heavy-duty trucks in North America once again in 2018.

Freightliner’s flagship, the New Cascadia, played a key role in the market success, with more than 76,500 being sold since the start of production in late 2016.

At the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas on 7 January, Daimler Trucks and Freightliner will announce strategic news on the subject of automated and connected driving.

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