DAI Daimler AG Common Stock

NEW YORK, June 1, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Daimler AG (stock exchange symbol DAI) today reported U.S. sales of 20,798 Mercedes-Benz and smart vehicles, an improvement of 4.7 Percent compared to May 2010. All sales figures in this release are on an unadjusted basis unless otherwise noted.

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Mercedes-Benz USA (MBUSA) today reported May sales of 20,306 vehicles, a 5.9 Percent improvement over May 2010, and the best May on record since May 2008. On a year-to-date basis, the 95,458 vehicles sold represent an 8.5 Percent increase.  

18,886 passenger cars, light truck vehicles and 1,420 Sprinter vans are included in this total for the month.

The highest volume performers for the month were the E- and C-Class model lines. The 9th generation E-Class led the pack with sales of 5,751, up 5% over May 2010. The sporty C-Class – the gateway to the Mercedes-Benz brand for younger and first-time Mercedes-Benz buyers – continued its strong momentum with sales of 4,936. MBUSA's compact SUV, the GLK-Class, finished third in volume with monthly sales of 2,214, up 22.1% over last year. Additionally, sales of the versatile R-Class crossover were up 237% over May 2010.

Sales of Mercedes-Benz diesel models were up 108.5% for the month (1,147 versus 550) and up 115.8% for the year (4,722 versus 2,188).

At the high end, the company sold 21 of its supercar -- the SLS AMG -- bringing its year-to-date sales to 330.

Sales of Sprinter Vans also increased by 126.1% for the month, with sales of 1,420 – bringing a year-to-date total of 5,184 (up 102.1%).  

Separately, through the Mercedes-Benz Certified Pre-Owned (MBCPO) program, MBUSA sold 6,818 vehicles in May 2011, a decrease of 2.1%. On a year-to-date basis, MBCPO sold 33,450 vehicles, a decrease of 4.1% over the comparable period last year.

smart USA recorded 492 sales in May 2011. Total sales increased more than five percent month-over-month from April 2011. This is the third consecutive month of month-to-month sales increases and the highest monthly sales total in 2011. The instability in fuel prices is driving consumers to consider the smart fortwo's EPA estimated 41 miles per gallon on the highway which is the highest for a non-hybrid vehicle.

Detailed vehicle sales information for MBUSA will be announced in a separate press release issued by Mercedes-Benz USA.

Further information on Daimler is available on the internet at www.media.daimler.com

About Daimler

The company's founders, Gottlieb Daimler and Carl Benz, made history with the invention of the automobile in the year 1886. 125 years later, in anniversary year 2011, Daimler AG is one of the world's most successful automotive companies. With its divisions Mercedes-Benz Cars, Daimler Trucks, Mercedes-Benz Vans, Daimler Buses and Daimler Financial Services, the Daimler Group is one of the biggest producers of premium cars and the world's biggest manufacturer of commercial vehicles with a global reach. Daimler Financial Services provides its customers with a full range of automotive financial services including financing, leasing, insurance and fleet management. As an automotive pioneer, Daimler continues to shape the future of mobility. The Group applies innovative and green technologies to produce safe and superior vehicles which fascinate and delight its customers. With the development of alternative drive systems, Daimler is the only vehicle producer investing in all three technologies of hybrid drive, electric motors and fuel cells, with the goal of achieving emission-free mobility in the long term. This is just one example of how Daimler willingly accepts the challenge of meeting its responsibility towards society and the environment. Daimler sells its vehicles and services in nearly all the countries of the world and has production facilities on five continents. In addition to Mercedes-Benz, the world's most valuable automotive brand, Daimler's brand portfolio includes smart, Maybach, Freightliner, Western Star, Fuso, Setra, Orion and Thomas Built Buses. The company is listed on the stock exchanges of Frankfurt and Stuttgart (stock exchange symbol DAI). In the year 2010, the Daimler Group sold 1.9 million vehicles and employed a workforce of more than 260,000 people; revenue totaled euro 97.8 billion and EBIT amounted to euro 7.3 billion.

SOURCE Daimler Corporate Communications