Truck manufacturer: Hundreds of millions in customs refunds – Daimler Truck's profits increase by 73 percent

The truck manufacturer has had a good quarter. However, special effects also ensure this: There were plenty of repayments in the USA - and that has to do with Donald Trump.

Daimler Truck boss Karin Rådström. “It is particularly important that we have improved our profitability.” Photo: dpa

Dusseldorf. The world's largest commercial vehicle manufacturer, Daimler Truck, benefits from customs repayments from the USA. In its quarterly report published on Friday, the DAX group speaks of reimbursement claims “in the low three-digit million euro amount”.

These drive up profits significantly. In the third quarter, Daimler posted before interest and taxes (EBIT) at 1.1 billion euros, 73 percent more than in the same period last year. However, over the nine months, the profit was ten percent below the previous year's level.

Daimler Truck produces for the North American market in the USA and Mexico. An additional tariff of 25 percent has been imposed on imports from Mexico to the USA since November 2025. In April 2025, the US Supreme Court ruled that a significant portion of the tariffs imposed by US President Donald Trump were unlawful.

Daimler Truck will receive a refund on vehicles that are assembled in Mexico but receive components from the United States. The US Department of Commerce approved a corresponding application by the Swabians for recognition of US value added shares in the summer. These are calculated using a complicated process. There are also various types of customs that Daimler Truck had to pay - and will now be reimbursed.