In the years 2024 and 2025, the global supply chain is facing new challenges due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and the escalating conflict in Ukraine. These events have led to supply chain bottlenecks and delays, causing order backlogs for trucks around the world. Daimler Chief Executive Martin Daum described the pressure as one of the worst in his career during this time, with shortages of energy, metals, and semiconductors posing particular challenges.
As 2025 began, there was a noticeable easing of pressure on the supply chain. Companies like Volvo Trucks reported that pent-up demand had started to level off and order books were becoming more stable. While Daimler and Volvo both anticipated strong demand for heavy-duty vehicles in the US, Europe was experiencing a different trend. Daimler reported a 15% drop in orders in the region for the first quarter of 2025, while Volvo noted a 24% decline as early as the fourth quarter of 2024.
Despite the appearance of a ‘return to normal’, there are concerns about potential challenges on the horizon. While productivity may improve, there is a risk that new economic and supply chain obstacles could arise and disrupt the plans for the global truck market’s future growth. It remains to be seen how the industry will navigate these potential challenges in the coming years.
