Daimler Posts 4Q Profit as Global, North American Truck Sales Improve
Daimler AG said its fourth-quarter truck operations were profitable compared with a loss a year ago, as worldwide truck sales jumped 41%.
Truck operations posted fourth-quarter earnings before interest and taxes of 393 million euros, compared with a loss of 224 million euros a year ago, the company said Wednesday.
Daimler AG, which includes Mercedes-Benz automobiles, posted a fourth-quarter operating profit of 1.56 billion euros, Bloomberg reported. It is the parent company of Daimler Trucks North America, which makes Freightliner and Western Star trucks.
North American truck sales rose 13% for the quarter to 19,616, and 21% for the year, to 73,859 units.
Worldwide truck sales rose 41% to 104,184 units for the quarter, and 33% to 352,009 units for the year.
Total truck orders jumped 37% for the quarter and 50% for the year, while North American orders rose 69% for the quarter and 24% for the year.
Truck sales should rise “substantially” this year as industrywide demand grows as much as 25% in North American and up to 20% in Europe, Daimler said.
