Despite the optimistic outlook for the second half of 2026, global markets will remain uncertain, Traton says. (Traton Group)
key takeaways:
- International sold 16,200 trucks and buses in the second quarter, down 8% year over year and up 21% from the first quarter.
- North American Class 8 orders reached 31,400 trucks in June, up 231% from the year-ago period, according to preliminary ACT Research data.
- Tratton said the improvement in U.S. customer demand is gradually being reflected in unit sales and should become more visible later in 2026.
Parent company Traton Group said on July 10 that International Motors sales fell 8% to 16,200 trucks and buses in the second quarter of 2026, from 17,600 vehicles in the year-ago period.
However, sales increased 21% compared with the first three months of the year, echoing the surge in second-quarter sales reported by Daimler Trucks North America on July 8 and providing another sign of the ongoing recovery in the U.S. freight market.
Overall in the first half of 2026, International’s sales totaled 29,500 trucks and buses, down 15% from 34,500 in the first six months of 2025.
International sold 13,300 vehicles in the first quarter of 2026 – including IC Bus school buses, down 21% from 16,900 vehicles a year earlier.
“The US market has recently shown encouraging signs of improving customer demand, which is now gradually being reflected in unit sales and is expected to become more visible in the second half of 2026,” Treton said in comments accompanying the release of the sales figures.
Lisle, Illinois-based International is the second major truck maker to report sales for the most recent quarter before full earnings, after DTNA, parent company of Freightliner and Western Star.
DTNA truck and bus sales increased 8% to 41,687 vehicles in the second quarter and climbed 41% compared to the first three months of 2026. Volvo Group and Packer do not provide stand-alone sales figures.
As Traton said, even better results are expected in the third quarter of 2026 ACT Research Data released on July 3 showed that June orders increased by more than 100% year-on-year for the fifth consecutive month.
June class 8 orders increased
Preliminary ACT data shows North American Class 8 orders totaled 31,400 trucks in June, up 231% from the year-ago period. Orders increased for the seventh consecutive month year on year in June.
Globally, Traton sold 82,900 trucks, buses and vans in the most recent quarter, up 4% from 80,000 vehicles in Q2 2025.
Traton – which is also the parent company of Scania, MAN Truck & Bus and Volkswagen Truck & Bus – said uncertainty remained in global markets.
Strong sales in China, Brazil
Scania’s sales growth of 7% underlined the higher global Traton total, which the company attributed to strong sales in China and Brazil.
Meanwhile, MAN benefited from a stronger German market, reporting a 3% sales increase in the second quarter.
Traton said European sales beyond Traton and MAN’s home market are lagging behind German demand.
Traton is set to report full earnings for the second quarter and first half of 2026 on July 23.
