Daimler Aims to Nearly Double Global Cars Sales

Daimler AG expects to boost combined sales of its Mercedes-Benz and Smart car brands to 2.6 million vehicles by 2020 from 1.4 million last year, CEO Dieter Zetsche tells Die Zeit.

That's the deadline Zetsche has set for Mercedes to reclaim the global luxury sales crown by overtaking rivals BMW and Volkswagen's Audi brand. Mercedes lost the lead to BMW in 2005 and fell behind Audi last year.

Zetsche reiterates to the German newspaper that Daimler aims to boost volume by expanding its lineup of small cars. Mercedes has 90,000 orders for the latest-generational A-Class hatchback, which made its European debut in September, he says.