The TRATON GROUP announced preliminary third-quarter 2026 unit sales of 78,900 vehicles, a 10% increase from 71,400 in the same period last year. The growth was primarily driven by a significant recovery in US customer demand, which boosted International Motors' sales by 48% year-over-year. This acceleration follows a slow start to the year and a 4% increase in the second quarter, bringing cumulative nine-month sales to 230,400 vehicles, up 3% from the prior year. The results highlight the group's resilience amid uneven regional performance and underscore the importance of the US market to its overall strategy.
International Motors, which represents the group's US-focused brand, sold 19,900 vehicles in the quarter, a sharp rise from 13,400 a year earlier. This more than offset a decline in the first half of 2026, resulting in a 3% increase in nine-month sales to 49,400 vehicles. The strong US performance is particularly significant as it indicates a rebound in a key market that had been sluggish, potentially signaling broader economic strength in the commercial vehicle sector. However, International's all-electric vehicle sales fell 72% to 100 units in the quarter, reflecting challenges in the electric segment.
Scania Vehicles & Services posted a 3% increase in third-quarter unit sales to 22,100 vehicles, driven by the ramp-up of production at its new plant in Rugao, China, and the government-supported “Move Brasil” loan program in Brazil. For the first nine months, Scania's sales rose 1% to 69,300 vehicles. Notably, Scania's all-electric vehicle sales jumped 55% to 250 units in the quarter and 69% to 640 units for the nine-month period, demonstrating growing demand for electric commercial vehicles in certain markets.
MAN Truck & Bus recorded a slight 1% decline in third-quarter unit sales to 24,500 vehicles, as positive truck business was offset by declines in bus and van sales. Nevertheless, MAN's nine-month sales were up 5% to 75,400 vehicles. Its all-electric vehicle sales increased 32% to 380 units in the quarter and 36% to 1,480 units for the nine months, indicating progress in electrification. Volkswagen Truck & Bus saw a 5% increase in third-quarter sales to 12,500 vehicles, also aided by the Brazilian loan program, but its nine-month sales fell 1% to 36,300 vehicles due to a weak first quarter. Its all-electric sales were tiny but grew significantly from a low base.
At the group level, all-electric vehicle sales declined 6% in the third quarter to 770 units but rose 29% in the first nine months to 2,670 units. This mixed picture suggests that while overall demand is recovering, the transition to electric vehicles remains uneven across brands and regions. The TRATON GROUP will publish its 9M 2026 Interim Statement on October 28, 2026, which will be available at https://ir.traton.com/en/publications. For more information, visit www.traton.com.
