Earnings reports for 2015 are rolling in this month for the major trucking manufacturers, so here’s a roundup of what’s come in so far.
Last year was the best sales year since 2006 with the German automaker moving more than half a million units.
For the full fiscal year 2015, Daimler’s truck unit posted a 32 percent profit improvement.
“The positive earnings development was mainly the result of higher unit sales in the [NAFTA] region and Europe as well as the realization of further efficiency improvements and positive exchange-rate effects,” the company said through a statement.
Earnings were hurt by factors such as lower sales in Latin America, higher warranty costs and technology investments, the company said.
“Class 8 truck industry retail sales in the U.S. and Canada were a robust 278,000 units in 2015, compared to the 250,000 vehicles sold in 2014,” says Gary Moore, Paccar executive vice president. “Truck demand is being driven by good economic growth, strong freight tonnage and lower fuel prices.”
For 2015, Paccar achieved a Class 8 retail market share in the U.S. and Canada of 27.4 percent, Moore noted. Paccar’s aftermarket parts business achieved annual revenues of $3.06 billion and profit of $555.6 million in 2015.
Mack booked 19,226 orders in North America last year, down 41 percent from 2014. Volvo’s 31,365 orders last year were a 20 percent drop.
The total North American retail market for heavy-duty trucks jumped 12 percent to 301,740 vehicles in 2015 thanks to fleet renewal and expansion.
North America deliveries of Mack and Volvo branded units were mostly flat in the fourth quarter. Mack Trucks delivered 27,411 vehicles in 2015, its best year since 2006.
