Daimler Sets October Car Sales Record

Daimler AG's sales of passenger vehicles rose 8% to a record 146,100 units in October.

Deliveries of Mercedes-Benz models surged 12% to 140,900 vehicles last month. Sales of Smart two-seat city cars plunged 40% to 5,200.

Combined sales of the two brands jumped by one-third in China and grew 10% in Europe last month, according to the company. Those increases offset a 5% decline in the U.S.

Mercedes-Smart sales through the first 10 months of 2014 reached a record 1.41 million units, up 11% from the same period last year. During that period Mercedes sales advanced 12% to 1.34 million. Smart sales fell 13% to 72,000.