Increased demand in Latin America boosts unit sales, revenue and earnings. With unit sales of 39,100 (2009: 32,500) complete buses and bus chassis and revenue of €4.6 billion (2009: €4.2 billion), Daimler Buses was the world’s leading producer of buses and chassis over eight tons gross vehicle weight also in 2010. The 20% increase in unit sales at Daimler Buses was mainly the result of the positive business development for chassis in Latin America. For market-related reasons, unit sales in Western Europe were slightly lower than in the prior year. At €215 million, EBIT was higher than in the prior year (2009: €183 million), with the increase mainly due to the positive sales development in Latin America.
Positive development of market share in key markets. In Western Europe, the Daimler Buses brands Mercedes-Benz and Setra offer the complete range of city buses, intercity buses and coaches, as well as Mercedes-Benz bus chassis. Unit sales in this region decreased by 1% to 7,200 units. Thanks primarily to our attractive product lineup, the coach segment suffered only a moderate drop in sales compared with the prior year. Unit sales of city buses decreased significantly in 2010 due to the reluctance of public transport operators to place new orders. On the other hand, unit sales of bus chassis developed positively in Europe. Daimler Buses succeeded in maintaining its leading market position in Western Europe with a market share of approximately 30% (2009: 30%).
In the sharply contracting North American market, Daimler Buses’ unit sales decreased by 29% to 800 units in 2010. Orion hybrid buses accounted for 32% of total unit sales in North America.
In Mexico, Daimler Buses produces and sells complete buses and bus chassis of the Mercedes-Benz brand. This region suffered more than any other from the economic crisis in 2009 but recovered slightly in the year under review. Our unit sales in Mexico of 3,100 buses and chassis were 12% higher than in the prior year. With an increase in market share to 53.6% (2009: 51.8%), Daimler Buses further consolidated its market leadership in the country.
In Latin America (excluding Mexico), Daimler Buses was able to boost sales of Mercedes-Benz bus chassis by 43% to 23,200 units, after markets there had rebounded significantly. Our unit sales in the region therefore returned to their pre-crisis level, enabling Daimler Buses to increase its market share in the region to 47.1% (2009: 44.7%).
Daimler Buses resolutely continues to forge ahead with alternative drive technologies. A total of 16 Mercedes-Benz Citaro G BlueTec hybrid buses have been delivered to customers since the vehicle was first presented to the public in 2009. These hybrid buses are being tested successfully in six European cities. Thanks to their pioneering drive technology, they are the only buses to date that can travel for up to five kilometers at a stretch solely on electric power.
In addition, the Clean Hydrogen in European Cities (CHIC) project was launched in Cologne in 2010. This EU-funded project makes it possible to integrate 26 fuel-cell buses into regular-service operations in five European cities. Daimler Buses is one of at least three manufacturers participating in the project and is supplying fuel-cell hybrid buses. The project marks an important step on the path toward the comprehensive introduction and marketing of hydrogen-powered fuel-cell buses. The aim is to gradually create fleets of fuel-cell buses and the required infrastructure. In the next step, the experience gained during the project will be incorporated into the creation of fuel-cell fleets and infrastructures in 14 European regions.
In this way, Daimler Buses is promoting the spread of locally emission-free drive technology and responding to the global challenges we face today. As a result of climate change, global population growth and urbanization, all modes of transport should supplement one another in an effective and networked system. Buses play a key role in this endeavor.
Bus Rapid Transit. With highly efficient transport solutions such as Bus Rapid Transit (BRT), Daimler Buses is helping to meet the rising demand for mobility in a sustainable way. BRT is an efficient and affordable transportation system that consists of one or more separate lanes on which high-capacity buses travel at frequent intervals. They are linked to intelligent computer-controlled traffic management systems, such as those used for traffic-light prioritization. In addition to real-time traffic management, this makes it possible for operators to offer high-speed transportation. It is also possible to quickly establish bus routes with BRT. These systems have been introduced at many locations, including South Africa, where they played a role during the 2010 soccer World Cup. At that event, Daimler Buses contributed its expertise on intelligent transportation systems and delivered 460 Mercedes-Benz buses.
Expansion of activities in India’s promising market. Daimler Buses is consistently expanding its involvement in India. In early 2010, Daimler Buses presented its new three-axle coach for the luxury segment at Auto Expo in New Delhi. The coach comes with a Mercedes-Benz chassis and the body is assembled by the Indian partner company, Sutlej Motors Ltd. We delivered a total of around 100 buses to Indian bus operators in 2010.
