DaimlerChrysler expects unit sales of its flagship Mercedes Car Group division to be steady in March, chief executive Juergen Schrempp reportedly told the car maker’s annual meeting on Wednesday.
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“In March, we expect Mercedes-Benz sales to be roughly at the year-ago level, thus more than 100,000 vehicles. This shows a positive trend,” he said, according to Reuters.
A spokesman reportedly made it clear Schrempp was referring to the Mercedes Car Group division, which also includes Smart small cars and Maybach limousines.
According to Reuters, Schrempp reiterated that Mercedes-Benz brand unit sales for the full year should rise slightly as new models come onto the market – Mercedes Car Group sales fell 11.6% in February, and a cumulative 9% in the first two months, and the car maker blamed weak markets, problems with faulty diesel pumps and customer restraint ahead of model changeovers for the M-class SUV and S-class luxury sedan.
The rollout of the new M-class and the launch of the B-class sports wagon in western Europe in June are expected to give 2005 sales a boost, the news agency noted.
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By GlobalDataHowever, spending to fix quality problems that have dogged Mercedes-Benz cars will weigh on results again this year, DaimlerChrysler chief financial officer Bodo Uebber told the meeting.
“We expect again this year a significant impact on earnings” due to the quality issues, he said, according to Reuters, but was not more specific.
