Daimler AG Reports a 18.5 Percent Increase for Mercedes-Benz and smart Vehicles in the U.S. for September 2010

NEW YORK, Oct. 1 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Daimler AG (stock exchange abbreviation DAI) today reported U.S. sales of $21,088 Mercedes-Benz and smart vehicles, an improvement of 18.5 Percent compared to September 2009. All sales figures in this release are on an unadjusted basis unless otherwise noted.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20080409/NYW017LOGO)

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20080409/NYW017LOGO)

Mercedes-Benz USA (MBUSA) today reported its best month of the year with September sales of 20,666 boosting year-to-date sales 22% ahead of last year.  The September volume made this the second highest September on record for MBUSA.  19,862 passenger cars, light truck vehicles and 804 Sprinter vans are included in this total.

The 9th generation E-Class led the month with sales of 5,608 (up 47.1%) – bringing the year-to-date total to 44,730 (up 67.3%).  The sporty C-Class followed suit with sales of 5,196 and the versatile M-Class SUV rounded out the top three volume performers with sales of 2,780 for the month.

Sales at the high end were equally strong with sales of the flagship S-Class up 55.2%; the GL-Class SUV up 52.6% and 35 of the newly launched supercar – the SLS AMG – bringing its year-to-date sales to 356.

On a year-to-date basis, the company sold 165,355 new vehicles, an increase of 22.1% over last year.

smart USA recorded 422 sales in September 2010.  smart USA is showcasing the smart fortwo electric drive as it prepares to begin delivering a test fleet of 250 electric vehicles with early adopters of electric drive technology across the United States beginning this fall. The smart fortwo continues to be a trendsetter in urban mobility and conservation with the smallest exterior footprint of any car — just 8.8 feet long — but a large amount of head and legroom, more than many small sedans.  The vehicle is engineered by Mercedes-Benz.

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

*Mercedes-Benz and Freightliner Sprinter Vans are sold and marketed in the U.S. by Mercedes-Benz USA and Daimler Vans USA, respectively.

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