The fourth quarter ended strongly, but it wasn’t enough to lift full-year operating profit of more than 0.9 per cent to 14.2 billion.
The important operating margin – the relation between operating profit and sales – was calculated on the full year to 5.6 per cent, from 6.7, respectively, 61 per cent in the two preceding years. During the fourth quarter was 6.2 percent (5.9 million in the previous year).
pointing to a trade war and increased price pressure in several markets, especially in China, as the explanations to the press on the profitability.
” this result is in line with our expectations, but it does not live up to our long-term ambitions. Both turnover and sales had a healthy growth, but the profitability was affected by external factors such as trade tariffs and increased price pressure in several markets, ” he explains in the press release about the report.
” We anticipate that 2019 will be another year with increased volumes, in line with our long-term ambitions. But we must be realistic and accept that profitability will continue to be under pressure, ” he says.
Europe: 318.235 cars
China: 130.593 cars
the united states : 98.263 cars
Other: 95.162 cars
Total: 642.253 cars.
