OREANDA-NEWS. In the third quarter of 2013, Daimler AG (ticker symbol DAI) once again achieved significantly higher earnings than in the prior-year period. The Daimler Group's EBIT for the period of July through September amounted to EUR 2,231 million (Q3 2012: 1,923 million). Net profit reached EUR 1,897 million (Q3 2012: EUR1,238 million). Earnings per share were EUR 1.72 (Q3 2012: EUR1.06).

In the third quarter of 2013, the Daimler Group sold 594,900 passenger cars and commercial vehicles worldwide, surpassing the prior-year total by 13%.

The Daimler Group's third-quarter revenue amounted to EUR30.1 billion, which is 5% higher than in the third quarter of last year. Adjusted for exchange-rate effects, revenue grew by 11%.

The free cash flow of the industrial business amounted to EUR3.9 billion in the first nine months of 2013, including EUR2.2 billion from the sale of the remaining shares in EADS. In the third quarter, the cash flow of the industrial business amounted to EUR1.6 billion. Compared with December 31, 2012, the net liquidity of the industrial business increased by EUR1.1 billion to EUR12.6 billion.

At the end of the third quarter of 2013, Daimler employed 276,320 people worldwide (end of Q3 2012: 275,451). Of that total, 167,727 were employed in Germany (end of Q3 2012: 166,888), 21,330 in the United States (end of Q3 2012: 21,930), 14,340 in Brazil (end of Q3 2012: 14,709) and 11,323 in Japan (end of Q3 2012: 11,337). The Group's consolidated subsidiaries in China employed 1,882 people at the end of the third quarter (end of Q3 2012: 2,648). The decreased headcount in China resulted from the integration of the sales organizations for cars into a non-consolidated joint-venture company.

Mercedes-Benz Cars once again achieved a record level of unit sales in the third quarter of 2013. Total sales by the car division grew by 14% to 395,400 units. Third-quarter revenue grew by 8% to EUR16.5 billion, and EBIT of EUR1,200 million was significantly higher than the prior-year result (Q3 2012: EUR973 million). The division's return on sales was 7.3% (Q3 2012: 6.4%).

Daimler Trucks' third-quarter unit sales were 4% above the prior-year level at 124,500 vehicles. Revenue reached EUR8.0 billion (-1%). Exchange-rate movements, in particular the depreciation of the Japanese yen, had a significant negative impact on the division's revenue. Adjusted for exchange-rate effects, revenue increased by 8%. The EBIT posted by Daimler Trucks of EUR522 million was higher than the EUR501 million achieved in the prior-year quarter. The division's return on sales was 6.5% (Q3 2012: 6.2%).

Mercedes-Benz Vans increased its unit sales by 17% to 65,300 vehicles in the third quarter of 2013. Revenue of EUR2.3 billion was also significantly higher than in the prior-year period (Q3 2012: EUR2.1 billion). Mercedes-Benz Vans achieved third-quarter EBIT of EUR152 million (Q3 2012: EUR75 million). The division's return on sales improved to 6.7% from 3.6% in the prior-year period.

Daimler Buses increased its worldwide sales by 17% to 9,600 units in the third quarter of 2013, primarily as a result of increased demand in Western Europe and Latin America. Revenue of EUR1.1 billion was also significantly higher than in the prior-year period (+19%). Third-quarter EBIT of plus EUR59 million was significantly better than in the prior-year period (Q3 2012: minus EUR36 million). The division's return on sales was plus 5.2% (Q3 2012: minus 3.8%).

Daimler Financial Services concluded approximately 296,000 new leasing and sales-financing contracts in a volume of EUR10.4 billion, thus generating 4% more new business than in the third quarter of last year. Contract volume reached EUR82.0 billion at the end of September and was thus 2% higher than at the end of 2012. Adjusted for exchange-rate effects, there was an increase of 6%. With third-quarter EBIT of EUR322 million, Daimler Financial Services equaled its earnings of the prior-year period.

At the corporate level, there was an expense of EUR30 million (Q3 2012: income of EUR98 million). The elimination of intra-group transactions resulted in income of EUR6 million in the third quarter of 2013 (Q3 2012: expense of EUR10 million).