Horstmar, Germany: Schmitz Cargobull reports a 27.4 % drop in trailer and body production and an 18.4 % fall in turnover in its 2019/2020 financial year compared with the previous year.
The drop which saw sales of €1.87bn is attributed to the coronavirus pandemic but the company remain Europe’s largest trailer r with about a quarter of the market.
“Unfortunately, the declining demand since mid-2018 continued during the financial year,” said Andreas Schmitz, (pictured above) chief executive, Schmitz Cargobull.
“The slight market recovery in early 2020 was then halted by the coronavirus pandemic. Nevertheless, we successfully implemented the necessary savings without cutting back on the core team,” Schmitz said.
In view of the uncertain conditions caused by the coronavirus, it is difficult to make a prognosis, he said.
“After a sharp slump in March, demand has recovered more quickly than initially expected,” said the CEO. In September, it was possible to scale back the reduced working hours that had been implemented. Depending on the development of the pandemic situation and its impact on the economy, the forecast for the units produced is between 30,000 and 50,000 vehicles, with sales of between 1.2 and 2bn euro.
Innovations and services form a basis for growth. “As part of our 100% Smart strategy, we have equipped all S.KO Cool Smart trailers with the TrailerConnect telematics system as a standard feature”, Schmitz said.
“This strategy has continued in 2020 with the standard installation of a new telematics system in the curtainsiders and dry freighters.
“In addition to data, ecology plays an increasingly important role: with the EcoDuo concept, we successfully presented an ecologically effective combination of two standard trailers for long-distance transport last year,” he said.
“This vehicle concept has already been tested successfully in various European countries and Schmitz Cargobull is committed to the broad acceptance of this solution.
