Daimler on a successful path: Record levels of unit sales, revenue and earnings in 2014 – highest ever dividend proposed

• Best ever unit sales of 2.5 million vehicles

• Group revenue up by 10% to €129.9 billion (2013: €118.0 billion)

• Group EBIT of €10.8 billion (2013: €10.8 billion)

• Significant increase in EBIT from ongoing business to €10.1 billion (2013: €8.0 billion)

• Net profit of €7.3 billion (2013: €8.7 billion)

• So far highest ever dividend of €2.45 per share (2013: €2.25) proposed

• Outlook for 2015: significant growth expected of unit sales, revenue and EBIT from ongoing business

Stuttgart, Germany – Daimler AG (ticker symbol DAI) continued its successful development in 2014 and once again set new records for unit sales, revenue and EBIT from the ongoing business. Due to very attractive and highly competitive product portfolios in all its automotive divisions and the expected market development, the company assumes that it will significantly increase its unit sales, revenue and EBIT from the ongoing business once again in 2015.

"We set new records once again in 2014 – for unit sales, revenue and earnings. This progress is the result of consistent hard work. And it is based on decisions we made several years ago and which we have successfully implemented since then," stated Dr. Dieter Zetsche, Chairman of the Board of Management of Daimler AG and Head of Mercedes-Benz Cars. "That is now paying off. It is clearly tangible throughout the Group. Daimler is on an upward curve."

EBIT for 2014 of €10.8 billion is at the level of the previous year, which was positively affected by the sale of the shares in EADS. EBIT from the ongoing business increased by 27% to €10.1 billion, which is the highest ever achieved by Daimler AG (2013: €8.0 billion). Net profit of €7.3 billion is lower than the prior-year amount of €8.7 billion, which was also positively influenced by the sales of EADS shares.

As previously announced, Daimler significantly increased its unit sales in 2014. With more than 2.5 million vehicles sold unit sales were 8% higher than in 2013. The increase was primarily driven by Mercedes-Benz Cars (+10%) and Mercedes-Benz Vans (+9%). The 2% increase in unit sales at Daimler Trucks was lower than originally expected, mainly due to the weak state of markets in Western Europe and Latin America. Daimler Buses' unit sales were slightly below the prior-year level. On the basis of the growth in unit sales, Group revenue increased by 10% to €129.9 billion; adjusted for exchange-rate effects, revenue grew by 12%.

"We are proud of our development in the past financial year. As the year progressed, we continuously improved our performance and surpassed the prior-year quarters. We are growing profitably, our strategy is paying off," said Bodo Uebber, Member of the Board of Management of Daimler AG for Finance & Controlling and Daimler Financial Services.

At the Annual Shareholders' Meeting on April 1, 2015, the Board of Management and the Supervisory Board will propose an increase in the dividend to €2.45 per share (prior year: €2.25). "With the once more increased dividend and thus the highest profit distribution by Daimler AG so far, we are letting our shareholders participate in the company's success and at the same time expressing our confidence about the ongoing course of business," emphasized Bodo Uebber. The dividend distribution will amount to €2,621 million (prior year: €2,407 million) and the distribution ratio will be 37.6% (prior year: 35.2%) of the net profit attributable to the Daimler shareholders. In the coming years, Daimler aims for a distribution ratio in the magnitude of 40%.

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