Mercedes-Benz Sets Global Sales Record

Daimler AG's Mercedes-Benz unit sold a record 1.46 million vehicles worldwide in 2013, up 11%. Results include a record 139,200 cars sold in December.

Full-year volume was driven by big gains in the U.S. (+14% to 313,500 units) and China (+31% to 218,000). Volume in Europe rose 6% to 660,600 vehicles in spite of a 2% decline to 255,200 units in Germany.

Daimler says global deliveries of its Smart city car, which will be replaced in the fourth quarter by an all-new model, dropped 3% to 100,800 units last year.