Daimler Truck raises unit sales as chip shortage eases

BERLIN : Daimler Truck raised unit sales by 27 per cent to nearly 135,000 units in the third quarter, as the chip shortage that hit the heavy truck business particularly hard in the same period last year began to ease.

Incoming orders were down 18 per cent from the third quarter last year and down 14 per cent this year so far, the company said in a statement, a sign that the backlog of demand outstripping supply as chip shortages prevented automotive manufacturers from delivering goods is clearing up.

Higher pricing, favourable exchange rate effects and a strong after-sale business pushed revenues up 47 per cent and earnings before interest and taxes up 159 per cent, the truckmaker said on Friday, confirming results released in an ad-hoc statement in late October.