MAN trucks importer expects turnover to halve

MHS Truck&Bus, importer of MAN trucks for Romania, a company controlled by businessman Michael Schmidt, estimates it will record sales worth 100m euros this year, half of those posted in 2008, following a reduction in orders from construction companies, which have difficulties securing financing. In 2008 MHS Truck&Bus sold 1,850 MAN trucks, up 36% against the 1,360 sold in the previous year. The company estimated halfway through last year that it would deliver around 2,500 trucks. "In the last three months of 2008, we worked at 50% of our capacity. We usually deliver around 200 trucks per month, but in the last quarter of the year we only delivered 100 because our clients had a tough time securing financing, in a context where our sales are dependent on the leasing system. Few companies can afford to pay cash," said George Geadau, sales manager of MHT Truck&Bus.