Class 8 News Updates

U.S. Class 8 retail sales in March fell 20% from 2025, marking the ninth consecutive year-over-year decrease, according to Omdia Automotive data.

Truck and bus manufacturers built 12,617 heavy-duty vehicles in Mexico in March, a 6.6% decrease compared with 13,512 vehicles in the same period a year earlier.

“Although the U.S. market has recently shown encouraging signs of an upturn in customer demand, this has not yet had an impact on unit sales,” Traton said.

The North American figures dragged down the worldwide total for parent company Daimler Truck even as European sales increased, the company said.

ACT Research preliminary data showed orders jumped 126% from the prior year to 37,200. Sequentially, orders fell 19.5% from 46,200.

Windrose Technology expects by 2030 to be producing Class 8 battery-electric trucks with a range of more than 621 miles.

The average on-highway price of diesel in California was $7.219 a gallon on March 30, a 44.7% increase compared with $4.99 a gallon on March 2.

Used Class 8 truck sales for February exceeded seasonal expectations amid strong gains for auction, wholesale and same-dealer sales.

Until now, Volvo did not have a manufacturing plant in Mexico. VTNA and Mack Trucks’ peers have had plants in Mexico for years.

Order season for North American original equipment manufacturers typically kicks off in September, but this past fall and winter saw a lag in commitments.