Mercedes 2015 Annual Report Download - page 159

166 C | THE DIVISIONS | DAIMLER TRUCKS
Very successful business developments in
a heterogeneous market environment
In 2015, Daimler Trucks increased its unit sales by 1% to
502,500 vehicles, the highest number since 2006. Revenue
grew by 16% to €37.6 billion (2014: €32.4 billion). Daimler
Trucks faced a regionally very diverse market environment in
2015. Demand for trucks rose strongly once again in the
NAFTA region last year. Truck demand increased also in Europe,
thanks to a robust economic recovery and the purchase
of more replacement vehicles. In Japan, sales of commercial
vehicles were at the solid level of the previous year, whereas
the demand in India increased compared with the previous year.
The weak and uncertain economic situation in Brazil almost
halved the country’s truck market. The Indonesian truck market
also contracted significantly. In this market environment,
Daimler Trucks increased its EBIT very significantly to the new
record of €2.6 billion (2014: €1.9 billion). The division’s return
on sales rose to 6.9% (2014: 5.8%).
More than 500,000 trucks sold in 2015
The number of 502,500 trucks sold in 2015 shows that our
strategy based on the three pillars of technology leadership,
global market presence and intelligent platforms is paying off.
We have assumed a leading role for autonomously driving
trucks. We continue to be well positioned as the market leaders
in the NAFTA region and Western Europe, and we have further
strengthened our position in the emerging markets. In October,
we opened our first regional center. Located in Dubai, it is the
first of six such centers that will be set up all over the world to
focus on sales and aftersales activities for Daimler Trucks.
The center in Dubai manages activities in 19 countries in the
Middle East and North Africa. In February 2016, two more
regional centers will be opened: in Kenya for Central Africa and
Daimler Trucks
Daimler Trucks is shaping the future of transportation. In 2015 Daimler Trucks once again impres-
sively demonstrated its leading role as a truck manufacturer with its strategy based on the three
pillars of technology leadership, global presence and intelligent platforms. In May 2015, the state of
Nevada approved our Freightliner Inspiration Truck for road use, making it the first autonomously
driving truck to receive this kind of certification anywhere in the world. Just five months later, we
tested the first autonomously driving series-production truck on public roads in Germany. With our
successful products and supported by positive market developments in the NAFTA region and Europe,
we further increased our unit sales to more than 500,000 vehicles, setting a major milestone in
our sales development.
C.03
Daimler Trucks
2015 2014 15/14
€ amounts in millions Change in %
EBIT 2,576 1,878 +37
Revenue 37,578 32,389 +16
Return on sales (in %) 6.9 5.8 .
Investment in property, plant,
and equipment
1,110 788 +41
Research and
development expenditure
thereof capitalized
1,293
26
1,188
34
+9
-24
Production 506,663 497,710 +2
Unit sales 502,478 495,668 +1
Employees (December 31) 86,391 87,628 -1
C.04
Unit sales of Daimler Trucks
2015 2014 15/14
In thousands Change in %
Total 502 496 +1
Western Europe 65 57 +13
thereof Germany 32 29 +10
United Kingdom 98 +12
France 76 +26
NAFTA 192 161 +19
thereof United States 167 142 +18
Latin America (excluding Mexico) 31 47 -35
thereof Brazil 16 32 -49
Asia 148 167 -12
thereof Japan 46 44 +4
Indonesia 32 58 -45
For information purposes:
BFDA (Auman Trucks) 69 99 -30
Total (including BFDA) 572 595 -4