Daimler Truck bets on second half after profit slump

Daimler Truck experienced a significant profit decline in the second quarter, with net profit dropping 48% to 128 million euros compared to 245 million euros in the prior year. Despite this setback, the commercial vehicle manufacturer remains optimistic about the latter half of 2026, anticipating accelerated earnings growth.

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The strong business development at Trucks North America, the prospect of higher sales figures, and the lower expected customs burden in the remainder of the year strengthen us in raising our forecast for the full year.

The company's confidence stems from several factors, including robust business performance in the United States, favorable adjustments to customs duties, and a nearly fully booked production schedule. "The strong business development at Trucks North America, the prospect of higher sales figures, and the lower expected customs burden in the remainder of the year strengthen us in raising our forecast for the full year," stated Daimler Truck CEO Karin Rådström.

Financial executive Eva Scherer highlighted the recovery of demand in the US market, noting that Daimler Truck's customer base allows it to benefit significantly from this trend. She also confirmed that the company's production program is almost entirely booked for the rest of the year, with order intake rising 27% in the second quarter, primarily driven by North American orders.

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The demand in the USA has recovered strongly since the beginning of the year and through our customer structure, we benefit particularly from it.

While revenue increased by 5% to approximately 12.3 billion euros, operating profit (EBIT) fell by 9% to 360 million euros. The industrial business segment saw an even steeper EBIT decline of 20%. Nevertheless, vehicle sales rose 8% to 86,707 trucks and buses in the second quarter.

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The second quarter really represents a turning point, which is why we also raised our forecast.

Scherer described the second quarter as a "turning point," explaining that the positive effects are expected to become apparent in the financial results from the third quarter onwards. This optimism is further supported by the company's recent announcement to build a new, largest-ever plant in the US, with construction beginning at the end of 2026 and production starting in 2029. The company is also pursuing a cost-saving program, "Cost Down Europe," aiming to reduce ongoing costs by over one billion euros by 2030, which includes eliminating approximately 5,000 jobs in Germany.

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Improvements will show in the numbers from the third quarter onwards.