Mercedes 2008 Annual Report Download - page 98

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Slight increases in unit sales and revenues. With sales of
472,100 vehicles (2007:467,700) and revenue of €28.6 billion
(2007:€28.5 billion), Daimler Trucks was once again the world’s
largest manufacturer of medium and heavy-duty trucks in 2008.
Daimler Trucks’ overall increase in unit sales of 1% was primarily
the result of higher volumes in Brazil, Indonesia and the Middle
East. However, extremely difficult market conditions caused
sales to decline in the United States, Canada, and Japan. EBIT
was lower than in the prior year, mainly due to charges relating
to the repositioning of Daimler Trucks North America and the
difficult economic situation (see page 54).
Positive business development at Trucks Europe/Latin
America. With its Mercedes-Benz Actros, Axor and Atego mod-
els, the Trucks Europe/Latin America business unit supplies
medium-duty and heavy-duty trucks for long-distance haulage,
local deliveries, and construction applications. The product
range is rounded off by Econic, Zetros and Unimog special-pur-
pose vehicles, which are primarily used by municipal authorities.
The business unit once again increased its unit sales in the year
under review: by 6% to a total of 170,100 vehicles, thereby
achieving a new sales record. The positive sales development
is particularly a reflection of the continuing market success of
the Actros and the Axor. However, the volume of orders received
was significantly lower than in 2007, partially due to the increas-
ingly difficult economic situation in the second half of the year.
Unit sales in Europe decreased slightly by 2% to 101,800 vehi-
cles. Of this figure, 40,200 trucks were sold in Germany (+0.5%),
where Mercedes-Benz maintained its market leadership in the
medium and heavy-duty segment with a market share of 39.6%.
Unit sales in the Middle East increased by 90% to 11,300 vehicles.
A new sales record of 43,400 vehicles (2007: 38,100) was also
achieved in Latin America, due to very favorable business
developments in Brazil. However, capacity bottlenecks caused
Mercedes-Benz’s share of the heavy-duty truck market to
decline slightly in Brazil to 27.6% (2007: 29.1%).
A particular highlight for Daimler Trucks in 2008 was the unveil-
ing of the third-generation Mercedes-Benz Actros, which is the
world’s first truck for long-distance haulage to be fitted with auto-
mated transmission as standard. A few weeks after its premiere
in March 2008, the market-leading truck was already entered in
the Guinness Book of World Records as the world’s most fuel-
efficient series-produced truck and world champion for low CO2
emissions following a test drive in Nardo, southern Italy. At the
IAA Commercial Vehicles show in Hanover, automotive journalists
from 21 European countries honored the Mercedes-Benz Actros
for its numerous innovations and improvements in the areas of
fuel efficiency, environmental friendliness, safety, and comfort,
and once again voted it the Truck of the Year. Actros construction
vehicles, which are specifically designed for use on building
sites, celebrated their world premiere at the international motor
show IAA Commercial Vehicles.
Renewed decrease in unit sales in the NAFTA region. Daimler
Trucks is the leading truck supplier also in North America. Our
Freightliner brand mainly supplies trucks for long-distance haulage,
while Western Star covers the segment of premium heavy-duty
trucks for long-distance haulage and construction applications.
In addition, Daimler Trucks North America produces school
buses of the Thomas Built Buses brand.
Daimler Trucks. Unit sales up slightly despite shrinking core
markets. Driver of innovation for safety and the environment.
EBIT lower than in prior year at €1.6 billion.
1,607
28,572
5.6%
991
1,056
326
472,942
472,074
79,415
% change
-24
+0
.
+29
+1
+15
+1
+1
-1
08/07
2,121
28,466
7.5%
766
1,047
283
468,967
467,667
80,067
Amounts in millions of €
20072008
EBIT
Revenue
Return on sales
Investment in property, plant
and equipment
Research and development
expenditure
of which capitalized
Production
Unit sales
Employees (December 31)