Daimler Trucks Sales Down 45 Percent in 2009

The global economic slump strongly affected the truck sales, as well as it did with passenger cars. So is the case with Daimler Trucks, who saw a decrease of 45 percent in worldwide sales during the course of 2009. Moreover, the division's revenues declined by 36 percent to €18.360 million.

Daimler Trucks, however, managed to maintain or even increase its market shares in the key regions.

"Our industry has always been very cyclical, which is why we are prepared to deal with market declines,” Andreas Renschler, member of the Board of Management of Daimler AG with responsibility for Daimler Trucks and Daimler Buses, said in a release.

The market downturn in 2009, which far exceeded normal cyclical fluctuations, led Daimler Trucks to significantly intensify its cost management measures and launch new efficiency programs, which are based on the Global Excellence Program.

“Nevertheless, it’s clear that truck manufacturers will be hit particularly hard when the world economy contracts in a more dramatic manner than ever before,” added Renschler. “Conversely, however, it's also true that when the economy recovers, truck manufacturers also recover, because you can't have economic growth without freight transport or trucks."

The manufacturer will however continue to penetrate the BRIC (Brazil, Russia, India, and China) markets and to invest heavily in new products. Daimler Trucks will not only invest in new generations of the current models in its portfolio, but it will also move on with the development of new environmentally friendly drive system technologies and vehicles in 2010.