Evaluation: On average, car manufacturers earn significantly less per car
US tariffs and price competition in China are weighing on the automotive industry. An evaluation examines 15 manufacturers and sees a scissors between the development of sales and earnings.
Düsseldorf - A recent assessment of the 15 largest non-Chinese automobile manufacturers in the first half of 2026 shows that, on average, they earned significantly less per vehicle, according to a report from the Center of Automotive Management (CAM). The average operational profit per delivered vehicle dropped from €1,409 to €1,187, a decrease of 17.5%.
This significant decline in profitability, amounting to €35.6 billion in operational earnings (EBIT), was far more pronounced than the 1.4% decline in revenue. The report suggests that the real concern lies not in the decrease of sales, but in the manufacturers' ability to convert revenue into operational results. The report's study director, Stefan Bratzel, emphasized that the "gap between revenue and earnings results is the actual red flag of the first half year: When EBIT falls twelve times as much as revenue, the industry loses not market share but earning power."
EBIT, short for earnings before interest and taxes, is a key financial metric indicating a company's operational profitability.
Written by urgent.news from Handelsblatt's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
