OREANDA-NEWS. Daimler Trucks’ second-quarter unit sales were slightly above the prior-year level at 123,800 vehicles (+1%). Revenue reached EUR 8.0 billion (-2%). The division’s EBIT was lower than in the prior-year period at EUR 434 million (Q2 2012: EUR 524 million), and its return on sales was 5.4% (Q2 2012: 6.4%).

Unit sales revived slightly, with stimulus in particular from the market recovery in Brazil. Ongoing weak demand in Asia and Western Europe, higher warranty costs and exchange-rate effects had a negative impact on earnings. In addition, charges on earnings of EUR 82 million arose from personnel actions in the context of an optimization program in Germany and Brazil. The efficiency actions of the “Daimler Trucks #1” program had an increasingly positive effect on earnings.

Despite a difficult market environment in Western Europe, Mercedes-Benz Vans slightly improved on its unit sales of the prior-year period, selling 69,400 vehicles in the second quarter (Q2 2012: 69,300). Revenue of EUR 2.4 billion was of the magnitude of the prior-year quarter. The division achieved EBIT of EUR 204 million (Q2 2012: EUR 200 million). Return on sales increased to 8.4%, from 8.3% in the second quarter of last year.

In a market environment that was still affected by weak demand and intense competition in Europe, unit sales by Mercedes-Benz Vans were slightly higher than in the second quarter of last year. Earnings were negatively impacted by changes in the product mix, as well as advance expenditure for new products, including the launch of the Sprinter Classic in Russia. There were positive effects from better pricing, lower material costs and reduced warranty expenses.