Daimler continues along its successful path – strongest unit sales in a first quarter

• Unit sales significantly above prior-year level at 683,900 vehicles

• Revenue up by 2% to €35.0 billion

• Group EBIT of €2,148 million (Q1 2015: €2,906 million)

• Group EBIT from ongoing business of €2,680 million (Q1 2015: €2,930 million)

• Net profit of €1,400 million (Q1 2015: €2,050 million)

• Free cash flow of industrial business of €0.3 billion (Q1 2015: €2.3 billion)

• Significant growth in unit sales and slight revenue growth anticipated for full-year 2016

• Group EBIT from ongoing business expected to be slightly higher than in 2015

• Dr. Dieter Zetsche, Chairman of the Board of Management of Daimler AG and Head of Mercedes-Benz Cars: "Daimler is on a successful path. Our growth in unit sales clearly shows that we are following the right strategy and have the right products in the market."

• Bodo Uebber, Member of the Board of Management of Daimler AG responsible for Finance & Controlling and Daimler Financial Services: "We are in a robust position with our solid financial statements, financial discipline and worldwide production networks in all divisions. This enables us to cope flexibly with market fluctuations and to consistently pursue our strategy."

Daimler AG (ticker symbol DAI) continued to implement its strategy successfully in the first three months of this year and again set a record for unit sales in a first quarter with 683,900 cars and commercial vehicles sold (+7%). Mercedes-Benz Cars also set a new record for this period with sales of 496,800 vehicles (+8%). Group revenue amounted to €35.0 billion and was thus 2% above the prior-year level. Adjusted for changes in currency exchange rates, revenue grew by 4%.

The Daimler Group achieved Group EBIT for the first quarter of €2,148 million (Q1 2015: €2,906 million). Group EBIT from ongoing business amounted to €2,680 million (Q1 2015: €2,930 million) and net profit amounted to €1,400 million (Q1 2015: €2,050 million). Net profit attributable to the shareholders of Daimler AG amounts to €1,353 million (Q1 2015: €1,963 million), representing earnings per share of €1.26 (Q1 2015: €1.83).

"Daimler is on a successful path. Our growth in unit sales clearly shows that we are following the right strategy and have the right products in the market. The model offensive is continuing at the same speed," stated Dr. Dieter Zetsche, Chairman of the Board of Management of Daimler AG and Head of Mercedes-Benz Cars. "We will continually improve as the year progresses and will make 2016 into another successful year for Daimler."

Earnings of the first quarter of 2016 were impacted primarily by a lifecycle-related decrease in unit sales of the S- and E-Class at the Mercedes-Benz Cars division. This fall in earnings was not offset by the improvement in earnings at the Daimler Trucks, Mercedes-Benz Vans and Daimler Buses divisions. At Daimler Financial Services, earnings increased primarily due to the higher contract volume. Exchange-rate effects had an overall negative affect on earnings. Declining discount rates also reduced earnings.

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