Daimler AG Reports a 10.3 Percent Increase for Mercedes-Benz and smart Vehicles in the U.S. for November 2010

NEW YORK, Dec. 1, 2010 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Daimler AG (stock exchange abbreviation DAI) today reported U.S. sales of 19,248 Mercedes-Benz and smart vehicles, an improvement of 10.3 Percent compared to November 2009. All sales figures in this release are on an unadjusted basis unless otherwise noted.

Mercedes-Benz USA (MBUSA) today reported its highest November sales volume since 2007 with sales of 19,037, an increase of 13.3% for the month. 18,208 passenger cars, light truck vehicles and 829 Sprinter vans are included in this total. On a year-to-date basis, sales increased 19.4% to 203,468.

Impressive gains continued in both the Mercedes-Benz passenger car and light-truck categories.  The strongest performer for the month was the 9th generation E-Class with sales of 4,986 bringing its year-to-date total to 55,869 (up 25.4%).  The popular and sporty C-Class followed with sales of 3,930 and the versatile M-Class SUV rounded out the top three volume performers with sales of 3,470 for the month.

Sales at the high end continued strong with sales of the flagship CL coupe up 159.2%.  Also showing strong gains for the month were the elegant CLS coupe up 130.8% and the commanding G-Class sport utility vehicle up 67.6%.  The company also sold 36 of the newly launched supercar - the SLS AMG - bringing its year-to-date sales to 451.

smart USA recorded 211 sales in November 2010. The company showcased the 2011 smart fortwo, with an all-new interior, to U.S. consumers for the first time at the LA Auto Show this past month.

Detailed vehicle sales information for MBUSA will be announced in a separate press release issued by Mercedes-Benz USA.

Further information on Daimler is available on the internet at www.media.daimler.com.

About Daimler

Daimler AG is one of the world's most successful automotive companies. With its divisions Mercedes-Benz Cars, Daimler Trucks, Mercedes-Benz Vans, Daimler Buses and Daimler Financial Services, the Daimler Group is one of the biggest producers of premium cars and the world's biggest manufacturer of commercial vehicles with a global reach. Daimler Financial Services provides its customers with a full range of automotive financial services including financing, leasing, insurance and fleet management.

The company's founders, Gottlieb Daimler and Carl Benz, made history with the invention of the automobile in the year 1886. As an automotive pioneer, Daimler continues to shape the future of mobility. The Group applies innovative and green technologies to produce safe and superior vehicles which fascinate and delight its customers. With the development of alternative drive systems, Daimler is the only vehicle producer investing in hybrid drive, electric motors and fuel-cell systems, with the goal of achieving emission-free mobility in the long term. This is just one example of how Daimler willingly accepts the challenge of meeting its responsibility towards society and the environment.

Daimler sells its vehicles and services in nearly all the countries of the world and has production facilities on five continents. Its current brand portfolio includes, in addition to the world's most valuable automotive brand, Mercedes-Benz, the brands smart, Maybach, Freightliner, Western Star, Fuso, Setra, Orion and Thomas Built Buses. The company is listed on the stock exchanges of Frankfurt and Stuttgart (stock exchange symbol DAI). In 2009, the Group sold 1.6 million vehicles and employed a workforce of more than 256,000 people; revenue totaled euro 78.9 billion and EBIT amounted minus euro 1.5 billion.

SOURCE Daimler Corporate Communications