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Daimler Trucks Ends 2014 With 500 000 Sales

Jan 13, 2015 Daimler, heavyduty

Daimler Trucks Ends 2014 With 500 000 Sales

Daimler Trucks has released a statement to the SA media, confirming that it sold almost 500,000 trucks globally in 2014 - a figure based on initial worldwide December figures. Final worldwide sales figures will be published at Daimler’s annual press conference, but so far the sum is up on the year prior. In 2013, Daimler Trucks sold about 484,200 vehicles of the Mercedes-Benz, FUSO, Freightliner, Western Star, Thomas Built Buses and BharatBenz brands.

“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.

The past year was a tumultuous one for the commercial vehicles sector. Weak economic prospects and 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 was very different in North America and Japan: In these markets 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. 

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 centres. 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 epitomizes 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.


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