Daimler makes a very good start to the year 2017: best-ever unit sales, revenue and EBIT in a first quarter
  • Unit sales significantly above prior-year level at 754,300 vehicles (+10%)
  • Revenue up by 11% to 38.8 billion
  • Group EBIT is 87% above prior-year level at 4,008 million
  • Net profit doubles to 2,801 million
  • Free cash flow of the industrial business of 1.9 billion (Q1 2016: 0.3 billion)
  • Significant growth in unit sales, revenue and Group EBIT anticipated for full-year 2017
  • Dr. Dieter Zetsche, Chairman of the Board of Management of Daimler AG and Head of Mercedes-Benz Cars: "A very successful quarter lies behind us. Ahead of us, we have a variety of opportunities for further profitable growth. We do have the right products to take advantage of these opportunities - and the financial strength to make the necessary investments."
  • Bodo Uebber, Member of the Board of Management of Daimler AG
responsible for Finance & Controlling and Daimler Financial Services: "We made a very good start to the year and once again surpassed our margin targets in the automotive business. We are very confident for the remainder of the year to achieve our financial as well as our strategic goals."

Stuttgart, Germany - Daimler AG (ticker symbol DAI) continued along its successful path in the first three months of 2017 and systematically implemented its strategy for a sustainable positive development. With sales of 754,300 passenger cars and commercial vehicles, the Daimler Group once again achieved best-ever unit sales (2016: 683,900) in a first quarter. This was primarily driven by record sales by Mercedes-Benz Cars with 568,100 units (+14%) and Mercedes-Benz Vans with 86,800 units (+13%).

Investor Relations Release

April 26, 2017

Group revenue amounted to 38.8 billion, which is 11% higher than in the first quarter of last year. Adjusted for exchange-rate effects, revenue increased by 7%.

The Daimler Group achieved first-quarter EBIT of 4,008 million in 2017, thus substantially surpassing the prior-year figure of 2,148 million. Net profit doubled to 2,801 million (Q1 2016: 1,400 million). Net profit attributable to the shareholders of Daimler AG increased to 2,706 million (Q1 2016: 1,353 million), so earnings per share increased to 2.53 (Q1 2016: 1.26).

"A very successful quarter lies behind us," stated Dr. Dieter Zetsche, Chairman of the Board of Management of Daimler AG and Head of Mercedes-Benz Cars. "Ahead of us, we have a variety of opportunities for further profitable growth. We do have the right products to take advantage of these opportunities - and the financial strength to make the necessary investments. The latest example: our new S-class. Daimler remains on the fast lane."

Mercedes-Benz Cars achieved particularly strong earnings growth. Its EBIT growth is mainly the result of increased unit sales of the new E-Class and the SUV models. The Daimler Trucks division significantly improved its earnings, primarily due to the sale of real estate in Japan. Mercedes-Benz Vans and Daimler Buses also achieved significantly higher EBIT than in the prior-year period. At Daimler Financial Services, earnings grew significantly mainly as a result of increased contract volume. Exchange-rate effects had a positive impact on operating profit at all the divisions.

"We made a very good start to the year and once again surpassed our margin targets in the automotive business," said Bodo Uebber, Member of the Board of Management of Daimler AG responsible for Finance & Controlling and Daimler Financial Services. "We are very confident for the remainder of the year to achieve our financial as well as our strategic goals. At the same time, we are constantly aware of the political and economic challenges and will continue to act flexibly and cautiously."

Free cash flow and net liquidity

In the first quarter of 2017, the free cash flow of the industrial business amounted to a cash inflow of 1.9 billion (Q1 2016: 0.3 billion). This increase resulted primarily from the positive business performance and the development of working capital. The figure reflects a cash inflow of

0.3 billion from the sale of real estate at the Kawasaki site in Japan as well as higher supplier liabilities for seasonal reasons.

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Compared with December 31, 2016, the net liquidity of the industrial business increased by 1.3 billion to 21.1 billion. The increase was mainly due to the positive free cash flow. Opposing effects resulted in particular from the capital increase at Daimler Financial Services AG.

The Daimler Group once again utilized attractive conditions in the international money and capital markets for refinancing in the first quarter of 2017. In the first three months of this year, Daimler had a cash inflow of

6.7 billion from the issuance of bonds (Q1 2016: 7.3 billion). The redemption of bonds resulted in cash outflows of 4.8 billion (Q1 2016:

2.6 billion). A large proportion of the issuance volume was carried out in the form of so-called benchmark bonds (bonds with high nominal values). At the beginning of January, Daimler Finance North America LLC issued bonds with three-, five- and ten-year maturities in the US capital market with a total volume of US$3.0 billion. In February, Daimler AG issued an eight-year bond of 1.25 billion in the European capital market. In addition, multiple smaller issuances were undertaken in various countries. Among other things, Daimler AG issued a one-year bond with a volume of RMB3.0 billion in the Chinese capital market in March.

Workforce

At the end of the first quarter of 2017, the Daimler Group had 285,810 employees worldwide (end of 2016: 282,488, end of March 2016: 285,992). Of that total, 171,084 were employed in Germany (end of 2016: 170,034) and 22,728 in the United States (end of 2016: 21,857). The consolidated companies in China had 3,782 employees at the end of March (end of 2016: 3,696).

Details of the divisions Mercedes-Benz Cars' unit sales increased by 14% to 568,100 vehicles in the first quarter. The car division thus set a new record in the reporting period, with best-ever unit sales for the first three months of a year in total and in Europe (+ 8%), China (+43%), Canada (+17%) and Mexico (+18%). The success in Europe was supported by double-digit growth and sales records among others in the United Kingdom (+13%), Belgium (+13%) and Sweden (+13%). In the German market, the division achieved growth of 6%.

Mercedes-Benz Cars increased its unit sales also in the United States (+2%).

The car division's first-quarter revenue increased by 14% to 22.7 billion and its EBIT of 2,234 million was substantially higher than the 1,395 posted in the prior-year period. Return on sales was 9.8% (Q1 2016: 7.0%). The very positive sales development of the new E-Class and the SUV models boosted earnings growth in the first quarter of 2017. Positive exchange-rate

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effects and the non-cash income effect of 183 million in connection with new investors in HERE also had a favorable impact on EBIT. There were opposing effects from advance expenditure for new technologies and future products.

In the first quarter of this year, sales by Daimler Trucks of 94,000 vehicles were 11% lower than in the prior-year period. Unit sales increased compared with the prior-year period in the EU30 region (European Union, Switzerland and Norway; Q1 2017: 17,400 units; +12%) and in Germany (Q1 2017: 6,500 units; +17%). In Turkey, unit sales decreased to 1,300 vehicles in a very difficult market environment (Q1 2016: 1,800). In the NAFTA region, the market adjustment in the segment of heavy-duty trucks had an impact on the division's sales, which dropped significantly to 32,900 units (Q1 2016: 40,400). In Latin America, Daimler Trucks increased its sales to 6,300 units (Q1 2016: 6,000). While sales in Brazil decreased to 2,400 units (-15%) due to the country's difficult economic situation, there was strong growth in unit sales in Argentina (+114%). In Asia, sales were lower than in the prior-year quarter. Unit sales decreased in the Middle East by 30%, in Indonesia by 2%, in Japan by 6% and in India by 7%. Hhe joint venture BFDA in China achieved significant growth with sales of 26,400 Auman trucks (+54%).

The division's revenue amounted to 7.9 billion (Q1 2016: 8.2 billion). Its first-quarter EBIT of 668 million was higher than the prior-year figure of 516 million. Return on sales was 8.4% (Q1 2016: 6.3%). The division's earnings increased primarily due to a gain of 267 million on the sale of real estate by Mitsubishi Fuso Truck and Bus Corporation (MFTBC) at the Kawasaki site in Japan. Further efficiency enhancements and currency translation also had positive effects on EBIT. Lower unit sales in the NAFTA region had a negative impact on earnings.

Mercedes-Benz Vans increased its unit sales by 13% to 86,800 vehicles - a new record in a first quarter. In its core EU30 region, the van division achieved growth of 12%. Growth was particularly strong in the United Kingdom (+21%), Spain (+26%), Belgium (+30%) and Italy (+34%). In the important German market, Mercedes-Benz Vans achieved a new record of 21,000 units sold (+9%). In the NAFTA region, however, unit sales decreased by 17%. Strong growth was achieved in Latin America (+56%), with a contribution from the significant market recovery in Argentina. The division's position continued to improve also in China, where unit sales nearly tripled compared with the prior-year period. Revenue increased by 6% compared with the prior-year quarter to

3.0 billion. The division's EBIT of 357 million significantly surpassed the prior-year level of 301 million. Return on sales was 11.9%, compared with

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Daimler AG published this content on 26 April 2017 and is solely responsible for the information contained herein.
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