Mercedes 2006 Annual Report Download - page 113

Divisions |Van, Bus, Other |97
Buses
Market position maintained. DaimlerChrysler Buses comprises
the bus operations of our Mercedes-Benz, Setra and Orion brands.
The unit sold 36,200 buses and chassis worldwide in 2006 (2005:
36,200). The Buses unit thus repeated the high level of unit
sales it achieved in the prior year and maintained its position as
the global market leader. In Europe, we sold 8,700 vehicles in a
growing market (+4%), once again achieving a market share of 22%.
Unit sales in Latin America rose by 14% to 17,100 vehicles; with
a market share of 48% in this region we are the market leader
(2005: 49%). In the NAFTA region, wesold 6,300 buses and
chassis in the year under review, fewer than in the prior year in line
with the overall market development (2005: 6,700).
Safety and assistance systems enhance customer utility.
Along with leadership in technology, the high comfort and safety
standards of our products haveplayed a decisive role in helping
us maintain our competitiveness in the bus sector. At the IAA Com-
mercial Vehicles Show 2006 in Hanover, we unveiled the “short”
Mercedes-Benz Citaro K (length: 10.5 meters), the Mercedes-Benz
Tourismo high-deck travel coach and the new MultiClass 400
low-floor intercity bus. All of these buses are equipped with pio-
neering safety systems as standard, including the Electronic Brake
System (EBS) and the Electronic Stability Program (ESP). Also avail-
able are additional driver-assistance systems such as Proximity
Cruise Control and the Lane Assistant. The Mercedes-Benz Citaro
Low Entry intercity bus was named “Bus of the Year 2007” in the
category of public transport buses. In the markets of Latin America,
the DaimlerChrysler Buses unit presented the 18-meter O 500
chassis – a trend-setting articulated chassis with high passenger
capacity.
Leader in alternative drives. DaimlerChrysler Buses’ leadership
in technology is also underscored by the unit’s pioneering role
in developing alternative drive systems. Examples include the drive
systems used in the fuel-cell powered Mercedes-Benz Citaro city
buses and in the hybrid buses built by Orion for the North American
market. Here, with some 1,500 units sold, we are the market
leader worldwide.
EADS
Record deliveries and challenges in the year under review.
While the helicopter, defense and space businesses continued
to develop positively in 2006 and Airbus delivered more aircraft
than ever before, the year was also impacted by delays in the
A380 program. The company will publish its results for the 2006
financial year on March 9, 2007.
During the first nine months of 2006, revenues at EADS as defined
by the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) rose
to€27.5 billion from the €23.4 billion recorded during the same
period of 2005. Operating profit amounted to€1.4 billion (first
nine months of 2005: €2.1 billion). This decline was due to delays
in the A380 program and the weakness of the US dollar against
the euro.
Marketsuccess overshadowed by delays in the A380 program.
Airbus delivered a record 434 aircraft in 2006 (2005: 378).
Following record order intake in 2005, Airbus posted the second-
highest level of incoming orders in its history in the year under
review, receiving new firm orders for 790 aircraft (2005: 1,055).
This is evidence of the ongoing strong demand for civil aircraft.
As of December 31, 2006, Airbus had an order backlog of 2,533
civil aircraft (2005: 2,177).
The timetable for the delivery of A380 aircraft was altered in Oc-
tober 2006. This development will place a substantial financial
burden on EADS in the period through 2010. According to the new
schedule, deliveries to first customers of the A380, which re-
ceived its Type Certification on December 12, 2006, will begin in
October 2007. To regain its competitive strength, Airbus launched
the “Power 8” efficiency-improving program with the goal of reduc-
ing costs by at least €2.0 billion each year beginning in 2010.
Green light for the A350 XWB. In December 2006, the EADS
Board of Directors approved the start of the program for the new
A350 XWB long-range airliner. The program targets a market
whose volume is expected to total approximately 5,700 new aircraft
over the next two decades.
The Mercedes-Benz Safety
Coach -the
safest travel coach
in the world - combines
all of
the existing safety systems. The
Sprinter also has the best safety
package in its class.