Daimler AG booked more truck orders than anticipated in the first two months of this year, underscoring its forecast of “significant” market growth in 2011, Bloomberg reported Friday.
Its truck sales in January and February rose 28%, while orders from Europe and North America exceeded growth expectations, said Andreas Renschler, head of Daimler’s commercial-vehicles division.
Daimler — the parent company of Daimler Trucks North America, which makes Freightliner and Western Star trucks — forecasts industrywide North American heavy-truck demand will climb 20% to 25% this year, while Europe’s market may grow 15% to 20%, Bloomberg reported.
The manufacturer may raise its projections further, as long as current “positive” trends continue, Renschler said, Bloomberg reported.
Daimler’s Mitsubishi Fuso Truck and Bus division in Japan plans to resume operations March 23 after shutting factories and setting up a temporary headquarters in Osaka following last week’s earthquake, Bloomberg reported.
The Kawasaki, Japan-based unit, which makes the Canter light commercial vehicle, accounted for 40% of Daimler’s 355,300 truck sales last year.
