Daimler Truck has strengthened its position in the European electric mobility sector with a substantial new fleet order. This commercial victory comes as the company navigates significant headwinds in its crucial North American market, keeping investor attention fixed on both operational execution and external trade negotiations.
Strategic Fleet Expansion with Simon Loos
In a key development for its electric vehicle (EV) division, Daimler Truck has secured an order for 75 Mercedes-Benz eActros 600 trucks from Dutch logistics provider Simon Loos. This acquisition will bring Simon Loos’s total fleet of these heavy-duty electric trucks to 210 units, solidifying its status as the operator of the largest e-truck fleet in the Netherlands. Designed for long-haul freight, the eActros 600 model features a battery capacity exceeding 600 kilowatt-hours, enabling a range of approximately 500 kilometers on a single charge. The ongoing economic attractiveness of battery-electric alternatives is being driven in part by persistently high diesel prices, making the transition increasingly viable for logistics firms.
Financial Performance and Analyst Outlook
On the trading floor, Daimler Truck shares closed at €40.80 on Thursday, reflecting a weekly decline of just over four percent. Despite this recent movement, the stock maintains a year-to-date gain of 8.60 percent. Market analysts continue to express confidence in the company’s trajectory. Research teams at Deutsche Bank have reaffirmed their “Buy” recommendation for the equity. Their optimism is anchored not only in the robust order intake within Europe but also on an anticipated sales recovery in North America expected to materialize during the 2026 fiscal year, which they identify as a central valuation driver.
Navigating Tariff Headwinds and Cost Management
A primary area of concern remains the North American business segment. The company is currently engaged in discussions with U.S. authorities seeking mitigation of the 25 percent import tariffs, introduced at the end of 2025, on products manufactured in its Mexican facilities. To offset these macroeconomic challenges, management is intensifying its cost-saving initiatives. Following achieved net savings surpassing €100 million in Europe last year, the company targets realizing further recurring savings of at least €250 million in 2026.
For the current 2026 financial year, Daimler Truck has set a sales target ranging from 330,000 to 360,000 vehicles. This forecast represents a clear increase from the 315,000 units sold in the prior year. The company’s projected adjusted EBIT is expected to land between €3.2 billion and €3.7 billion. The successful execution of these outlined savings goals, coupled with tangible progress in U.S. trade talks, forms the concrete foundation upon which the company plans to achieve its operational targets.
