Excellent first quarter of 2011: Daimler increases EBIT by 71% to €2 billion

• First-quarter net profit nearly doubles to €1,180 million (Q1 2010: €612 million)

• Revenue significantly higher than in prior-year at €24.7 billion (Q1 2010: €21.2 billion)

• Net liquidity of the industrial business increases to €12.4 billion

• Further growth in unit sales and revenue anticipated for 2011

• Affirmation of guidance for 2011: EBIT from ongoing business expected to be significantly higher than in 2010

Stuttgart – Daimler AG (stock-exchange symbol DAI) made an excellent start to the year 2011: Earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) for the first quarter amounted to €2,031 million (Q1 2010: €1,190 million), which is 71% above the figure for the prior-year period.

The positive EBIT development led to a significant improvement in net profit to €1,180 million (Q1 2010: €612 million). Earnings per share increased to €0.99 (Q1 2010: €0.65).

"We achieved excellent earnings in the first quarter. This puts us well ahead of our planning and confirms our positive outlook for the year 2011," stated Dr. Dieter Zetsche, Chairman of the Board of Management of Daimler AG and Head of Mercedes-Benz Cars.

"We are on the right track. We want to delight our customers with fascinating products and strong brands, and we intend to continue our profitable growth. To go new ways successfully, we are building on our proven strengths: continuous innovation, new technologies and an outstanding team. We are consistently implementing this strategy," stated Zetsche.

The very positive development of earnings is a reflection of the ongoing upward trend in nearly all the Daimler Group's divisions. Mercedes-Benz Cars, Daimler Trucks and Mercedes-Benz Vans increased their unit sales compared with the prior-year period in all major regions. Daimler Financial Services profited in particular from lower cost of risk.

In connection with the natural disaster in Japan, expenditures of €49 million were recognized at Daimler Trucks and €29 million at Daimler Financial Services; any insurance compensations have not yet been taken into consideration.

Daimler will remain watchful in the future, so that it can react quickly and flexibly to global challenges such as the tragic disaster in Japan.

The special items that affected EBIT in the first quarter of 2011 and 2010 are shown in the table on page 9.

Per scaricare il Comunicato Stampa completo (Word) selezionare "Effettuare il download della selezione" dal menù sottostante.