GERMANY MAN Truck & Bus reports that it closed the first quarter of 2025 weaker than in the same period of the previous year due to ongoing subdued customer demand. At a total of 20,600 vehicles, sales in the first quarter were 14% below the previous year’s level, with reduced deliveries of both trucks and buses across Europe. Sales revenue of €3.1 billion were 12% below the previous year’s level, with a drop in operating profit to €143 million.
CFO Inka Koljonen said: “In the first quarter, we very clearly felt the effects of weak customer demand on our sales and earnings. In order to further improve our resilience, we must and will work even harder on optimising our costs and cash generation. However, it is encouraging that demand has picked up again slightly.
The positive trend in incoming orders is consolidating. It was 50% higher than in the same quarter of the previous year and is now for the first time at a level last seen at the end of 2022 or the beginning of 2023. We are cautiously optimistic that the slightly positive growth trend can be sustained over the course of the year. We are therefore also preparing to phase out short-time working at our German locations.” 380 electric buses and trucks sold in the first three months represent an increase of 178% compared to the first quarter of 2024, driven primarily by the continued strong demand for electric city buses. Overall, sales of buses were down by 8%, and trucks down by 21%.
