Knorr-Bremse AG, a global leader in braking systems for rail and commercial vehicles, reported strong financial results for the third quarter of 2026, achieving its highest operating EBIT margin in more than five years. The company recorded significant growth in revenue, profitability and order intake, supported by its BOOST efficiency program and recovering truck markets.
Knorr-Bremse Revenue Rises 9% in Q3 2026
Knorr-Bremse’s consolidated revenue increased by 9% year-on-year to €2.05 billion, compared with €1.88 billion in Q3 2025. Operating EBIT climbed 19.1% to €299 million, marking the second-highest quarterly operating result in the company’s history. The operating EBIT margin improved to 14.6%, up from 13.3% a year earlier.
Order intake reached €2.05 billion, while the company’s order backlog increased by 7% to €7.88 billion. Free cash flow also rose significantly, increasing nearly 50% to €238 million.
Truck Division Drives Strong Earnings Growth
Knorr-Bremse’s Truck Division benefited from recovering commercial vehicle markets in North America and Europe. Order intake jumped to €1.02 billion from €783 million a year earlier, while revenue increased 12.5% to €938 million.
Operating EBIT in the Truck Division surged 31.9% to €116 million, with the operating EBIT margin reaching 12.3%.
Meanwhile, the Rail Division generated €1.11 billion in revenue, representing 6.1% growth. Its operating EBIT increased 9.9% to €197 million, supported by improved efficiency and higher sales.
Knorr-Bremse Targets Continued Growth in 2026
Knorr-Bremse CEO Marc Llistosella highlighted the success of the company’s BOOST strategy and its transition toward the new “Growth Beyond” initiative, focusing on innovation, quality and customer-oriented solutions.
For the full year 2026, Knorr-Bremse expects revenue between €8.1 billion and €8.3 billion, an operating EBIT margin of 14.0% to 14.5%, and free cash flow ranging from €750 million to €850 million.
The company anticipates revenue and free cash flow at the upper end of its guidance ranges, reinforcing its confidence in continued profitable growth despite challenging global market conditions.
