STUTTGART, (Reuters) – Daimler Truck expects a further slowdown in demand for commercial vehicles and its new CEO must take measures to adjust for that, the German company’s Chairman Joe Kaeser said on Thursday.
“Our profitability is not yet where competitors are, that has to change in the medium to long term”, Kaeser told a press conference after Karin Radstrom was announced as the company’s next CEO late on Wednesday.
He did not say what measures Radstrom might need to take.
The truck and bus maker appointed Mercedes-Benz lorry brand head Radstrom as its CEO effective Oct. 1, a little over a month after cutting its revenue guidance and reducing working hours at its German plants due to weak demand in Europe and Asia.
Her predecessor, Martin Daum, will retire as planned, but will remain on the management board until the end of this year.
Daimler Truck faces subdued demand after chips and other parts shortages in the wake of the pandemic pushed up production costs. The industry also faces challenges to reduce pollution from commercial vehicles.
Radstrom, the first woman to take the helm of the world’s largest heavy truck producer, comes from Sweden’s Södertälje, home to Europe’s most profitable truck maker, Volkswagen’s Scania, where she spent about 20 years, starting as a marketing trainee. She joined Daimler in 2021.
“I think with Ms. Radstrom we have someone who is extremely customer-focused, who is well-versed … and knows the industry well thanks to her experience outside the company,” Kaeser said.
Reporting by Ilona Wissenbach Writing by Andrey Sychev Editing by Mark Potter
