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

Cities across China are decorating landmark sites with national flags and floral displays as National Day is around the corner.

Yuzhong District of southwest China's Chongqing City is displaying over 2,000 flags alongside carefully arranged floral landscapes covering main roads, commercial hubs, and bridges. In Shexian County of east China's Anhui Province, red flags are fluttering amid the Huizhou Ancient City's floral greenery.

At the Wenshan Dongshan Park in southwest China's Yunnan Province, citizens unfurled a giant 24-by-16 meter national flag, singing vibrant songs to express their heartfelt wishes. Cities such as Chengdu in southwest China, Taiyuan in north China, and Yichang in central China are also showcasing the five-star flag to usher in the holiday.

Flower displays bloom throughout streets and parks, with cities of Fuzhou in the east and Daqing in the northeast hosting themed floral exhibitions that brighten public spaces. Markets bustle with activity as fresh produce flows steadily. In Zhongmu, Henan Province in central China, trucks loaded with pomegranate, honey tangerines and kiwi line up early to meet demand. In Urumqi City of northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, flower markets bloom with over a thousand varieties meeting diverse consumer preferences.

Ahead of the holiday, Hong Kong's streets have been adorned with bright national and special administrative region (SAR)'s flags alongside large National Day posters. Community groups are holding cultural activities featuring traditional crafts to celebrate the 77th founding anniversary of the People's Republic of China.

In Macao, national flags wave at border checkpoints, streets, parks and squares, paired with celebratory banners creating a lively National Day atmosphere.

Cities across China adorned for National Day celebrations