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Indice: DAX
30
DaimlerChrysler is one of
the world's leading automotive companies. Its passenger car brands include
Maybach, Mercedes-Benz, Chrysler, Jeep®,
Dodge and smart. Commercial
vehicle brands include Mercedes-Benz, Freightliner, Sterling, Western Star
and Setra. It offers financial and other automotive services through DaimlerChrysler
Services. With 365,600 employees, DaimlerChrysler achieved revenues of
EUR 149.6 billion ($158.8 billion*) in 2002.
Dieter
Zetsche Confirms Talks with Potential Partners Regarding the Chrysler Group
Approximately
8,000 shareholders expected at the Annual Meeting in Berlin
Commitment
to sustainable mobility
Shareholders
to decide on unchanged dividend of EUR 1.50 per share
Berlin,
Germany, April 04, 2007
Dr.
Dieter Zetsche, the Chairman of the Board of Management of DaimlerChrysler
AG (stock exchange abbreviation: DCX), has confirmed for the first time
that discussions have taken place with interested parties regarding future
options for the Chrysler Group.
"In
this context, I can confirm that we are talking with some of the potential
partners who have shown a clear interest", Zetsche is quoted as saying
in the text of the speech he will deliver at the Annual Meeting 2007 in
Berlin today. However, Zetsche continued, "But it is also true that we
need to keep all options open, and that I cannot disclose any details,
because we need to have the maximum scope for maneuver." The company's
management requires "the greatest possible flexibility so that we can identify
and then professionally implement the best possible solution."
The
basic requirement with all options is that the Recovery and Transformation
plan, presented in February, is consistently implemented, which will lead
Chrysler back to profitability. DaimlerChrysler has defined clear criteria
for the decision-making process. The company wants to enhance DaimlerChrysler's
financial strength in a sustainable way and increase enterprise value;
create
the right conditions for a clear strategic focus for DaimlerChrysler;
make
the Chrysler Group's business system competitive and profitable on a sustainable
basis; find the best possible option for the employees.
"This
means, that after reviewing all options, we will finally decide for
the option that best meets our criteria", Zetsche is quoted in the text
of the speech, adding: "So far, I am satisfied with the process. Everything
is going according to plan."
Sustainable
mobility
In
light of the recent discussion on climate protection, the DaimlerChrysler
Chairman gave a clear commitment on sustainable mobility: "For us at DaimlerChrysler,
the emission-free automobile is and remains the long-term goal of our 'roadmap'
toward sustainable mobility." This roadmap has three main components:
the
consequent further improvement of combustion engines, with and without
a hybrid option
high-quality
and alternative fuels emission-free driving, with the fuel cell as a long-term
goal
25/10/06
DaimlerChrysler achieves operating profit of €0.9 billion in third
quarter 2006
Net
income of €541 million (Q3 2005: €855 million)
Earnings
per share of €0.53 (Q3 2005: €0.84)
Revenues
below prior-year level at €35.2 billion
Operating
profit in the magnitude of €5 billion anticipated for full-year 2006
Stuttgart
- DaimlerChrysler (stock abbreviation DCX) achieved a third-quarter operating
profit of €892 million (Q3 2005: €1,838 million).
The
continuation of the very positive earnings trend at the Mercedes Car Group,
the distinct increase in operating profit at the Truck Group as well as
the Financial Services’ operating profit, which is above the high level
of earnings in the prior-year quarter, only partially compensated for the
loss contributed by the Chrysler Group.
Net
income amounted to €541 million in the third quarter (Q3 2005: €855
million). Earnings per share amounted to €0.53, compared with €0.84
in the third quarter of 2005.
Unit
sales below prior-year level
DaimlerChrysler
sold 1.0 million vehicles worldwide in the third quarter, not equaling
the high level recorded in Q3 2005 (-14%).
As
a result of the lower unit sales, the Group’s revenues decreased from €38.2
billion to €35.2 billion. Adjusted for currency-translation effects,
the decrease was 5%.
At
the end of the third quarter of 2006, DaimlerChrysler employed a workforce
of 365,451 people worldwide (end of Q3 2005: 388,014). Of this total, 168,965
were employed in Germany and 95,647 were employed in the United States
(end of Q3 2005: 185,288 and 98,945 respectively).
Details
of the divisions in the third quarter of 2006
The
Mercedes Car Group sold 307,500 vehicles worldwide in the third quarter
of this year (Q3 2005: 310,900). Third-quarter unit sales by Mercedes-Benz
increased slightly to 282,800 vehicles (Q3 2005: 282,100), primarily due
to the success of the new models launched in 2005 and 2006. At smart, due
to the focus on the smart fortwo, unit sales decreased, as expected, to
24,700 vehicles (Q3 2005: 28,800). Customer orders have been received for
nearly all smart fortwo cars that will be produced prior to the model changeover
next year. The divisions’s revenues increased by 8% to €13.5 billion.
The
Mercedes Car Group increased its operating profit by 127% to €991
million. This significant increase in earnings is primarily due to the
efficiency improvements achieved in the context of the CORE program. An
additional factor was that earnings were favourably impacted by the improved
model mix since the launch of the new S-Class and M-/R-/GL-Class. Exchange-rate
effects had a negative impact on operating profit.
Staff
reductions at Mercedes-Benz Passenger Cars in the context of the CORE program
led to charges of €47 million. Within the framework of the voluntary
headcount reduction program announced in September 2005, approximately
9,300 employees had signed severance agreements or had already left the
company. The expenses originally planned for the restructuring of smart
were adjusted, resulting in a gain of €40 million.
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