Daimler Truck profit halves in second quarter as tariffs hit North America earnings

Daimler Truck reported a 48% drop in net profit for the second quarter of 2026, with earnings falling from €245 million to €128 million compared to the same period last year, according to a company statement from its headquarters in Leinfelden-Echterdingen, near Stuttgart .
The German commercial vehicle manufacturer cited tariffs as a continuing drag on profitability, particularly in the critical North American market . Despite the profit decline, revenue rose 5% to approximately €12.3 billion, while operating profit (EBIT) fell 9% to €360 million. In its industrial business—excluding financial services—EBIT dropped more sharply, by 20% .
Vehicle sales increased 8% year-over-year to 86,707 trucks and buses, and new orders surged 27% to 74,448 units in the three months ending June 30 . The company’s adjusted EBIT margin in industrial operations declined by 2.4 percentage points to 6.8%.
CEO Karin Rådström said the strong performance in Trucks North America, expectations of higher sales volumes, and reduced tariff burdens in the latter half of the year supported the decision to raise the full-year forecast . Daimler Truck now anticipates accelerated earnings growth in the second half of 2026 and has recently upwardly revised its annual outlook.
The quarterly results extend a period of financial strain. In 2025, net profit fell 34% to €2 billion, and in the first quarter of 2026, it plummeted 80% . To improve competitiveness, the company launched the “Cost Down Europe” program last year, targeting more than €1 billion in annual cost reductions on the continent by 2030. The initiative includes cutting approximately 5,000 jobs in Germany, primarily affecting the Mercedes-Benz truck brand, with additional savings planned in North America .
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