Daimler Pretax Earnings Rise 16%

Daimler AG's pretax earnings grew to €2.2 billion in the third quarter of 2013 from €1.9 billion a year earlier.

The group's net profit jumped 53% to €1.9 billion. Revenue advanced 5% to €30.1 billion. Sales, including commercial vehicles, climbed 13% to 595,000 units worldwide.

Demand for Mercedes-Benz passenger vehicles rose 14% to 395,400 units in spite of an undisclosed drop in Smart city car sales. Revenue expanded 8% to €16.5 billion in the third quarter.

Commercial truck sales increased 4% to 124,500 units but revenue slipped 1% to €8 billion. Mercedes-Benz Vans volume grew 17% to 65,300 units, and revenue climbed 10% to €2.3 billion.

Daimler predicts improved year-on-year results in the fourth quarter. It estimates its full-year pretax earnings will be about €7.5 billion, with €4 billion coming from car sales, €1.7 billion from commercial trucks and €600 million from vans.