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Daimler profits

February 9, 2012

German auto giant Daimler achieved record sales and profits in 2011. All company divisions had a share in the upswing. And, sales are expected to rise further due to robust demand in emerging markets.

https://p.dw.com/p/13zyV
Image: AP

German automobile and truck manufacturer Daimler on Thursday reported record sales and profits for 2011. The company said in a statement in Stuttgart that it had posted a bottom-line net profit of 6.029 billion euros ($8 billion), up an impressive 29 percent year-on-year.

The 125-year-old company, which owns Mercedes-Benz, announced that its 2011 earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) jumped 20 percent to 8.755 billion euros.

Higher profits were first and foremost made possible through a considerable increase in unit sales. Daimler last year sold 2.111 million cars and revenues grew by nine percent, compared to 2010 figures.

Nothing to complain about

"We achieved the best-ever results in 2011 for unit sales, revenue, EBIT and net profit," said Daimler chief Dieter Zetsche. "All of our divisions contributed to this success", he added.

The vehicle maker said it paid shareholders a dividend of 2.20 euros per share, up from 1.85 euros in 2010. Daimler's of 160,000 received 4,100 euros each in boni, compared to 3150 euros in 2010.

Portrait of Daimler chief Dieter Zetsche
Harbinger of good news - Daimler chief Dieter ZetscheImage: AP

Daimler expects unit sales to rise significantly again this year, pointing to an assumed global industry-wide growth of four percent, driven primarily by growing demand in emerging Asian markets.

Author: Hardy Graupner (AFP, Reuters)
Editor: Gregg Benzow