Daimler achieves EBIT of €917 million in first quarter of 2013

• Net profit of €564 million (Q1 2012: €1,425 million)

• Total unit sales of 501,600 vehicles at prior-year level

• Group revenue of €26.1 billion (Q1 2012: €27.0 billion)

• Growth in unit sales and revenue anticipated for full-year 2013

• Group EBIT from the ongoing business in 2013 expected to be below the magnitude of the prior year

• Significant improvements expected for the coming quarters due to planned new models, the increasing impact of the efficiency programs and probable market developments

Daimler AG (stock-exchange symbol DAI) achieved earnings below the prior-year level in the first three months of 2013. The Daimler Group posted first-quarter EBIT of €917 million (Q1 2012: €2,098 million). Net profit amounted to €564 million (Q1 2012: €1,425 million). Earnings per share amounted to €0.50 (Q1 2012: €1.26).

"In the first three months of this year, many markets developed worse than expected for economic reasons, especially in Western Europe. Nonetheless, we maintained our unit sales and revenue almost at the levels of the prior-year quarter and gained market share in many segments," explained Dr. Dieter Zetsche, Chairman of the Board of Management of Daimler AG and Head of Mercedes-Benz Cars, with regard to business developments in the first quarter.

"The response to our new products such as the CLA and the E-Class is excellent, and at Daimler Trucks, our successful product offensive is largely completed with the new Arocs and the new Atego. On the basis of the new products, the ongoing efficiency programs and our assumptions for future market developments, we expect earnings in the second half of this year to be higher than in the first half, due in particular to the launch of the new S-Class," continued Dr. Zetsche.