Freightliner Dominated Classes 6, 7 and 8 in 2012

PORTLAND — In calendar year 2012, for the first time ever, Freightliner trucks claimed the largest individual share of the North America medium-duty truck market, a segment usually held by Navistar, makers of International Trucks.

Daimler Trucks North America (which owns Freightliner) President Mark Lampert told a group of journalists last week that of all the accomplishments coming out of 2012, the “achievement we’re probably most proud of,” was dominating the class 6 and 7 markets.

Freightliner maintained its seemingly dynastic lead in the class-8 division across North America, and Lampert was quick to point out that one single year of leading sales in classes 6 and 7 can’t be called market dominance.

Navistar’s own internal problems contributed to the sales situation, he said, so Freightliner cannot simply assume the market leadership will continue. But Freightliner also decided to pursue the vocational market more with more rigor a few years ago and the payoff, Lampert said, was realized in 2012.

In 2012, Freightliner products claimed a 36.9% market share, while Navistar dropped to 34.7%.

“For the first time, we can say we finally have superior products across all segments; we couldn’t say that before,” Lampert remarked.

Truck OEMs produced 344,227 trucks across the three classes last year; 111,932 of those were Freightliners.