Daimler Truck said it sold 108,911 trucks and buses in the first quarter of 2024, calling the fall "a decrease in line with the expected normalisation of the markets" compared to Q1 2023's 125,172.

Trucks North America sold 46,220 units (Q1 2023: 48,891). Mercedes-Benz achieved 31,885 unit sales, a fall of 8% versus 34,492 a year previously.

Trucks Asia, affected mainly by weak Asian markets, reported 28,457 sales versus 40,210.

However, Daimler Buses increased its unit sales by 1% to 5,604 units (5,570).

Sales of battery electric vehicles (BEVs) rose 183% to 813 vehicles from 287.

Chairman Martin Daum said in a statement: “[Sales] in Q1 2024 [reflected] the expected normalisation of global truck markets, and a weak environment in key markets in Asia.

"Unit sales in our core markets for heavy duty trucks in Europe and North America are on a solid level completely as expected. Daimler Buses is continuing its positive development and further increased its unit sales.

"We have almost tripled the deliveries of zero emission vehicles compared to Q1 2023.”