Level of orders

Order intake totalled €4,877.3 million, exceeding the 2013 level of €4,489.1 million by 8.6 per cent. The LMH and STILL operating segments contributed to this rise, both accelerating their rate of growth over the course of year.

The KION Group brand companies increased orders for new trucks by 8.5 per cent to 155.0 thousand units. In the case of diesel trucks, the KION Group generated slight growth and maintained its share of the global market. A noticeable feature was the demand for Baoli’s D series trucks in emerging markets. The KION Group benefited from growth in the market for electric forklift trucks and warehouse technology products, responding in particular to the rising demand in western Europe and China.

In the reporting year, high-growth markets accounted for some 35 per cent of new truck orders, driven in the main by growth in eastern Europe and China.

Factors contributing to the rise in order intake in terms of value included the higher unit sales of vehicles, the further slight increase in the proportion of customised equipment and the expansion of the service business. Over the course of 2014, the order book increased by 13.5 per cent to €787.2 million (2013: €693.3 million).