Volkswagen-controlled Traton Group closed the third quarter of 2024 with a 5% increase in commercial vehicle sales compared to the same period the previous year, reaching 85,300 units. However, this quarterly growth did not translate into an annual gain: sales for the first nine months of 2024 totaled 245,400 units, representing a 2% year-on-year decline. In the electric vehicle segment, Traton sold 1,130 units in the first nine months, a 5% decrease.
Performance varied among the brands within the group, specifically the European brands Scania and Man Truck. The Swedish manufacturer sold 21,800 vehicles in the third quarter, reflecting a 2% increase from the same period in 2023. The growth was even stronger for the first nine months of the year, with Scania selling 74,100 vehicles—a 9% increase year-on-year. Scania also achieved notable success in the electric vehicle market, selling 80 electric trucks in Q3 2024, an 82% rise, and maintaining stable sales of 190 electric units for the first nine months, matching last year's numbers.
In contrast, Man Truck sold 19,900 vehicles in Q3 2024, marking a 29% decrease from the same period last year, putting it behind its Swedish counterpart. This decline was also seen over the first nine months of 2024, with Man Truck sales dropping 18% to 69,200 units compared to the same period in 2023. In the electric segment, Man Truck sold 150 units in Q3 2024, a 47% decrease, and 380 units in the first nine months, down 43% year-on-year.
Traton noted that the decline in Man Truck's performance was largely due to a contraction in the German commercial vehicle market. Meanwhile, Scania benefited from a strong South American market, where the Swedish brand has a significant presence. This trend was also evident in the performance of Traton's South American brand, Volkswagen Truck, which increased sales by 28% in Q3 2024 and by 20% in the first nine months.
North America also delivered positive results for Traton, operating through the International Motors brand (formerly Navistar). In Q3 2024, International Motors sold 31,500 units, including 290 electric vehicles, reflecting a 41% increase compared to the same period last year. For the first nine months, sales totaled 66,800 units, including 460 electric vehicles, though this represented a 2% year-on-year decline. The brand faced setbacks due to a fire at a mirror supplier's factory in Q2 2024, which slowed assembly and consequently affected vehicle deliveries.
