Daimler-Benz Sales Continue to Rise

PARIS — The world’s largest truck builder, Daimler-Benz is continuing on a record pace for sales and profits this year.

Through the first nine months, operating profit for the Commercial Vehicles Division has reached $848 million on revenues of $20.1 billion, an increase of 20% over the same period last year.

Worldwide, Daimler has increased unit sales by 19% to 355,600 vehicles (3.5 tons and up).

According to Daimler, the unit sales increase is largely due to Freightliner’s success in North America and high demand for Mercedes-Benz’s Class 8 Actros, new medium-duty Atego and commercial vans in Western Europe.

Daimler-Benz as a whole, which includes its passenger car, aerospace, and services divisions, has racked up profits of $3.3 billion through the first nine months on revenues of $62.3 billion, an increase of 17% over the same period in 1997. According to Daimler, all divisions contributed to the record results.

"Both Daimler-Benz and our partner, Chrysler, are in excellent shape," said Daimler-Benz Chairman, Jurgen Schrempp. "We expect these developments to continue with the merged DaimlerChrysler group. Two healthy, strong and profitable partners, each with an outstandingly positioned product range are about to embark on a common future, which with the help of a highly motivated staff is certain to be successful."