Schmitz Cargobull, Europe’s leading semi-trailer manufacturer, has announced a price increase of three to five per cent across all vehicle types. The company cites rising energy and labour costs, as well as higher material prices, particularly for steel and raw materials traded in US dollars, as key factors driving the decision.

Andreas Schmitz, CEO of Schmitz Cargobull AG, said: “The decision to pass on some of the rising material costs to our customers was not an easy one for us. The economic environment is difficult, not least due to the uncertainty on the corporate and consumer side, but also due to the challenging political landscape.

“However, no company can sell its products below production costs in the medium term. Therefore, we see no other option than to increase prices now in order to continue to offer our customers the high quality and reliability of our products that they have come to expect, and which allows them to operate economically in the long term. Should material prices fall contrary to expectations, this will be reflected in the price calculation and we will pass the cost advantage on to our customers.”

Despite the cost pressures, Schmitz Cargobull remains committed to investing in productivity improvements and research and development to maintain high product standards.

Schmitz added: “We want to do the right thing for our customers and not compromise on product quality. The aim is to reduce the total cost of ownership. For example, we continue to rely on galvanised vehicles that retain their value and offer the best insulation for temperature-controlled transport in our refrigerated boxes. Despite the higher purchase price, this pays off for the customer.”