MAN Truck & Bus SE recorded a year-on-year decline in order intake of -26% to around 37,000 units in the first half of fiscal year 2024. This was due in particular to weaker demand for trucks in the EU27+3 region. The significant year-on-year decline in unit sales of -12% to 49,400 units is mainly attributable to a truck model year change in the first half of 2024, catch-up effects in the comparative period and currently weak market demand. At €7.1 billion, sales revenue remained at the previous year's level, which was primarily due to an improved product mix for trucks and vans. The positive operating performance in the bus and service business offset the volume-related lower adjusted operating result in the truck business. The company also benefited from the realignment program completed at the end of 2023. Adjusted operating profit amounted to € 581 million in the first six months (H1 2023: € 476 million), while the adjusted operating return on sales was 8.2% (H1 2023: 6.8%).
“Our result shows the resilience that the company now possesses. Our structural measures to permanently reduce costs are paying off. We need to confirm this result in the current very challenging market environment and therefore work continuously to improve our competitive position,” said MAN CFO Inka Koljonen. She continued: “In the current phase of market weakness caused by the economic situation, the entire company is countering this with appropriate cost discipline. We have also launched extensive sales promotion programs to increase the number of new orders again. Even though we are confident that our clear plan and the individual measures will start to take effect in the near future, we expect the second half of the year to be challenging.”
