Major German carmakers report profit decline in Q1 2025

Major German car makers have reported net profit declines in the first quarter of 2025 as they face increasing operation challenges amid U.S. tariff-created uncertainties.

​Volkswagen Group said its sales revenue in the first three months of 2025 grew by nearly three percent year on year, but the earnings after tax slumped about 41 percent from the previous year.

Challenges such as uncertainties in the global economy, increasing trade restrictions, and commodity volatility are placing pressure on the company's profitability, Volkswagen Group said in its financial results released on Wednesday.

Mercedes-Benz Group also reported a net profit reduction in the first quarter of 2025.

In its financial report released on Wednesday, the company said its first-quarter revenue amounted to 33.2 billion euros, down seven percent year on year, and its net profit stood at 1.73 billion euros, marking a 43-percent decline compared to the previous year.

Mercedes-Benz Group said that the U.S. tariff policy causes considerable uncertainty for the world economy, dims global growth prospects, and leads to weak consumer sentiment.

If the currently-announced U.S. tariffs are implemented and remain in place until the end of the year, they will have a negative impact on its business, Mercedes-Benz Group said.

On the same day, the German Association of the Automotive Industry called on the United States to roll back additional tariffs on automobiles and auto parts for vehicles and to resolve trade disputes through dialogue to create a sustainable environment for long-term development.

Major German carmakers report profit decline in Q1 2025

Major German carmakers report profit decline in Q1 2025

Major German carmakers report profit decline in Q1 2025

Major German carmakers report profit decline in Q1 2025

Liu Haixing, special envoy of General Secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee Xi Jinping, visited Laos on Tuesday to congratulate the successful convening of the 12th National Congress of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party (LPRP) and Thongloun Sisoulith on his election as general secretary of the 12th LPRP Central Committee.

Liu, head of the International Department of the CPC Central Committee, delivered a congratulatory letter from Xi to Thongloun and conveyed a message.

The message stated that China stands ready to work with Laos to advance the continuous development of a China-Laos community with a shared future, guided by the important consensus reached by the top leaders of the two parties and two countries.

Thongloun expressed his sincere appreciation and extended warm greetings to Xi.

He noted that the new central leadership of the LPRP attaches great importance to developing relations with China and is willing to work closely with China to continuously elevate bilateral relations between the two parties and two countries to a higher level.

Xi's special envoy visits Laos