Daimler Trucks North America (DTNA) expects to end the year with heavy-truck sales in the US of 185,000 units, reports Fleet Owner, citing comments from DTNA President and Chief Executive Martin Daum. This is a considerable decline from the previous forecast of 219,000 units put forward in the spring of this year but still an increase from last year’s total of 171,000 units.
Daum is quoted as describing the situation across North America as “too good to complain, but not good enough to dance on the table.”
Speaking at press briefing during The American Truck Associations (ATA) annual management conference and exhibition, Daum forecasts a 9% rise this year for Class 6-8 truck sales in the NAFTA region to 332,000 units. Looking ahead, Daum expects to see continued growth in the industry, with Class 6-8 sales averaging 375,000 trucks for 2010 to 2020, up from an annual average of 362,500 in the last decade and 346,000 in the 1990s.
For next year, Daum described his forecast as “cautiously optimistic”, noting that the company was not certain when stronger growth would kick in, but that it was sure it would eventually.
