Commercial vehicle manufacturer: Profit at Dax group Daimler Truck almost halved

Daimler Truck, a commercial vehicle manufacturer, saw its profit plunge by 48% in the second quarter of the year, according to the DAX company based in Leinfelden-Echterdingen, Stuttgart. The group's overall result fell from 245 million euros to 128 million euros compared to the same period last year, the company announced. Tariffs continued to weigh on profitability in the second quarter, the statement said.

Revenue, however, rose by five percent to around 12.3 billion euros. Operating profit (Ebit) fell by nine percent to 360 million euros. When financial services are excluded, the Ebit decline was more pronounced at 20%. Despite selling more vehicles, Daimler Truck's profit dropped by 48% in the second quarter. Sales fell by eight percent compared to the previous year, totaling 86,707 trucks and buses.

Daimler Truck's CEO, Karin Rådström, stated in the announcement that the strong performance of Trucks North America, along with the expectation of higher sales figures and lower anticipated tariff impacts in the coming year, prompted the company to raise its annual profit forecast. The group anticipates accelerated profit growth in the second half of the year and recently upgraded its outlook for the current fiscal year.

The commercial vehicle manufacturer's recent struggles were not limited to this quarter. In 2025, the profit dropped by 34% compared to the previous year, falling to two billion euros. The profit even fell by a whopping 80% in the first quarter of the current year. To become more competitive, Daimler Truck launched the "Cost Down Europe" cost-cutting program last year.

The program aims to reduce ongoing costs on the home continent by more than one billion euros by 2030. Consequently, around 5,000 jobs will be lost in Germany. This includes the Mercedes-Benz truck brand. Efforts to cut costs will also extend to North America.