Mercedes also becomes profitable Audi and BMW – Les Echos

Pretty performance. Daimler was able to achieve by 2015 its profitability targets for 2020 … The operating margin (EBIT) of 10% in advance for five years, was released early last year by the Mercedes brand, placing it at rivals Audi and BMW. Dieter Zetsche, head of Daimler, now intends to keep his group “sustainable top of the hierarchy.” But the uncertainties of 2016 forced him Thursday in cautious optimism.

For the coming year, China will grow more slowly, as the United States, two of its key markets. And truck division will continue to suffer in Brazil and in Southeast Asia. Furthermore, Daimler plans to invest 2 billion euros in modernizing its plants and pre-launches of new models, including in e-mobility. The launch of his limousine midrange, class E, will also impact loads. Everything leads Dieter Zetsche to predict for 2016 a “slight increase in EBIT” in absolute terms.

Just this prognosis was given, the action Daimler plunged in trading nearly 4%. The announced increase in the dividend to 3.25 euros per coupon, changed nothing. Morgan Stanley found the forecast “down compared to previous expectations.” Risks to the global economy are at the heart of the concerns and Daimler is not immune to ambient nervousness.

The year 2015 was remarkable for the fact German his breakthrough in China become its biggest market. With fifteen launches, sales growth has been 37% last year to 400,000 vehicles. Globally, deliveries of Mercedes climbed 16% to 2 million units. The brand with the star (not Smart) has elapsed 1.87 million cars before Audi (1.8) and very far from BMW (1.9 million). Growth was also more profitable, EBIT climbed by 41% in absolute value, from 5.9 to 8.2 billion euros. The manufacturer reaps the rewards of a renovation of the range of SUVs, which represent 27%? of its sales. All car and truck (502,000 sales) posted an operating margin of 9.1%, when 9% were referred in 2020.

The manufacturer offers will continue to s’ expand from 30 to 40 car models by 2020. geographically, the Mercedes star now shines on five blocks of size roughly equivalent, namely North America, Europe, Germany, China and the world. The group is like its competitors, to death in Russia (15% of sales) although it remains to Audi and BMW, and increases its price by 25% to compensate for the negative effect of exchange rates.

The good results are also the fruit of savings programs launched in the past. Modular platforms MFA (MRA) became widespread in factories and cooperation such as with Renault-Nissan possible to generate significant savings. “Our efficiency programs which covered 4 billion euros in savings (as announced in 2012) have been successfully applied” , said chief financial officer Bodo Uebber. it prevents efficiencies of research continues in the production cycle, adds the financier. This happens best when the reward is at the end: 125,000 group employees in Germany will receive a record bonus of 5,650 euros for 2015, up 30%

<- tpl_blocs / pub_ntv1.! ->