Scania, MAN Truck & Bus and VWTB (LA) parent the TRATON GROUP sold 53% more trucks and buses in the first nine months of 2021 in spite of ongoing shortages in the supply of semiconductors and other components.
Total unit sales rose to 195,400 up to Quarter 3, 2021 (Q3 2020: 127,700) vehicles. Truck sales (including the MAN TGE van) grew by 58% to 182,800 (Q3 2020: 115,800) units, while sales of buses increased by 6% to 12,600 (Q3 2020: 11,800) units, impacted by the continuing travel restrictions.
In addition the TRATON GROUP consolidated North American brand Navistar for the first time in its 2021 Interim Statement as of September 30, 2021.
Commenting on the figures Christian Levin, CEO of the TRATON GROUP: “Managing the supply chains remains a big challenge, but we find new solutions every day to serve our customers as quickly as possible. Our entire industry is experiencing a perfect storm right now. Having said that, I am very optimistic that the TRATON GROUP will emerge all the stronger from this storm and then be able to sharpen its competitive edge.”
Including Navistar, incoming orders rose by 84% to 268,300 vehicles. Similarly, incoming orders for trucks, which climbed by 89% to 255,000 (2020: 134,600) vehicles, were significantly higher than for buses, which grew by 18% to 13,300 (2020: 11,300). Sales revenue for the first nine months of 2021 amounted to €21.7 billion (2020: €15.7 billion), an increase of 38%.
Adjusted operating result amounted to €1,322 million, a marked increase compared with –€9 million in the first nine months of 2020. The adjusted operating return on sales reached 6.1%, up from –0.1% in the same period of the previous year. Operating result came to €641 million (2020: –€58 million) and operating return on sales to 3.0 (2020: –€0.4)%. The book-to-bill ratio, expressed as incoming orders over unit sales, was 1.37 (2020: €1.14).
The operating units at a glance
Scania Vehicles & Services saw its unit sales increase by 41% to 67,200 (9m 2020: 47,700) vehicles. Sales revenue was up 27%, rising to €10.3 billion (2020: €8.1 billion). Operating result came to €1,099 million (9m 2020: €419 million). Operating return on sales was 10.7% (2020: 5.2%). No adjustments to operating result have been made during the first nine months.
MAN Truck & Bus recorded unit sales of 68,600 (2020: 53,500) vehicles, an increase of 28%. Sales revenue grew by 22%, rising to €8.0 billion (€2020: 6.6 billion). Adjusted operating result came to €245 million (2020: –€414 million), corresponding to an adjusted operating return on sales of 3.1% (2020: –6.3%). The repositioning of MAN Truck & Bus gave rise to expenses of €681 million.
Volkswagen Caminhões e Ônibus (South America) saw its unit sales climb by 70% to 45,600 (2020: 26,800) vehicles. Sales revenue was up by three quarters, increasing to €1,623 million (2020: €931 million). Operating result came to €132 million (2020: –€6 million). Operating return on sales rose to 8.1% (9M 2020: –0.6%). No adjustments to operating result have been made during the first nine months.
The new operating unit Navistar Manufacturing Operations recorded incoming orders of 23,600 vehicles in the first quarter of its consolidation. Unit sales from July until the end of September stood at 14,100 vehicles, broken down into 11,300 trucks and 2,800 buses. Sales revenue reached €1.7 billion for the three months. Operating result came to €42 million and operating return on sales was 2.5%. Operating result was negatively impacted by transaction costs for the Navistar acquisition in the amount of €40 million.
Forecast
Subject to further developments in strained supply chains in the fourth quarter and the resulting potential production stoppages, or potential new restrictions stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic, TRATON anticipates a very sharp year-on-year increase in unit sales for the full-year 2021. A very sharp increase in sales revenue is also expected. These forecasts take into account Navistar’s unit sales and sales revenue in the second half of 2021.
Contingent on the market and revenue assumptions described here and based on the first three quarters, TRATON forecasts an operating return on sales in the range of 5.0 to 6.0% for the GROUP during 2021 as a whole.
The forecast does not include any expenses for restructuring measures for the repositioning of MAN Truck & Bus. Earnings effects from the purchase price allocation relating to the acquisition of Navistar are not included in the forecast, either.
