Daimler accelerates along its course – strong growth in revenue, earnings and cash flow in third quarter

• Unit sales 7% above prior-year level at 637,400 vehicles

• Revenue up by 10% to €33.1 billion

• EBIT from ongoing business of €2.8 billion significantly higher than in prior-year period (Q3 2013: €2.3 billion)

• EBIT of €3.7 billion (Q3 2013: €2.2 billion)

• Net profit of €2.8 billion (Q3 2013: €1.9 billion)

• EBIT from ongoing business in full year expected to be significantly higher than in 2013

• Free cash flow of industrial business excluding effects of acquisitions and disposals as well as special payments in connection with pension and healthcare benefits expected to be significantly higher than in 2013

• Significant growth in unit sales and revenue anticipated for full-year 2014

• Dr. Dieter Zetsche, Chairman of the Board of Management of Daimler AG and Head of Mercedes-Benz Cars: "Our strategy is paying off. We are growing profitably and look to the future with optimism also beyond the full year."

Stuttgart, Germany – Daimler AG (stock-exchange symbol DAI) provided impressive confirmation of its successful course in the third quarter of 2014 with strong growth in earnings as well as new record figures for unit sales and revenue. The Daimler Group sold a total of 637,400 cars and commercial vehicles worldwide, 7% more than in the third quarter of last year. Mercedes-Benz Cars made a major contribution with the highest-ever quarterly unit sales in the company's history. The Group's third-quarter revenue of €33.1 billion was 10% above the prior-year level; adjusted for exchange-rate effects, revenue increased by 11%. Due to the favorable development of business in all divisions, EBIT from the ongoing business

improved to €2,787 million and was thus substantially higher than in the prior-year period (Q3 2013: €2,300 million). Net profit also increased significantly to €2,821 million compared with €1,897 million in the third quarter of last year.

"Our strategy is paying off. We are growing profitably and look to the future with optimism also beyond the full year," stated Dr. Dieter Zetsche, Chairman of the Board of Management of Daimler AG and Head of Mercedes-Benz Cars. "In all our divisions, both the product offensives and the efficiency programs are taking effect. We are confident that we will achieve the targets we have set on a sustained basis."

Including special items, EBIT for the third quarter amounted to €3,732 million (Q3 2013: €2,231 million). In particular, the product mix at Mercedes-Benz Cars and the increasing impact of the efficiency measures that have been implemented at all divisions had a positive effect on operating profit. Foreign exchange rates had a slightly negative impact on earnings, however. The third quarter of 2014 was particularly influenced by the sale of the shares in Rolls-Royce Power Systems Holding GmbH (RRPSH). This resulted in a gain of €1,006 million, which is presented in the reconciliation.

The income-tax expense of €760 million is €585 million higher than in the third quarter of last year. In the third quarter of 2014, a gain was recognized on the sale of the RRPSH shares that was largely tax free. In the prior-year period, tax benefits related to the tax assessment of previous years led to the relatively low income-tax expense. Net profit of €86 million is attributable to non-controlling interest (Q3 2013: €61 million) and net profit of €2,735 million is attributable to the shareholders of Daimler AG (Q3 2013: €1,836 million); earnings per share therefore amount to €2.56 (Q3 2013: €1.72).

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