Mercedes 2010 Annual Report Download - page 134

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Mercedes-Benz Vans
Mercedes-Benz Vans performed well in the year 2010 and maintained its position as market leader
in the European Union. Start of production at the new plant in Fuzhou enables us to supply the Chinese
market with locally manufactured vans. We are continuing our product offensive with new generations
of the Vito and the Viano.
S
ignificant increases in unit sales, revenue and EBIT following
market recovery.
Mercedes-Benz Vans sold 224,200 vehicles
during the year under review. Thanks to recovering markets and
increasing demand, unit sales of the Sprinter, Vario, Vito and
Viano models were 35% higher than in 2009. At €7.8 billion
(2009: €6.2 billion), revenue was also significantly higher than
in the prior year. EBIT substantially increased from the prior
year to €451 million (2009: €26 million).
Mercedes-Benz Vans records strong increase in unit sales.
Mercedes-Benz Vans recorded major sales increases in Western
Europe, our key sales market. At 156,800 vehicles, unit sales sur-
passed the prior year’s figure by 22%. The sales situation was partic-
ularly encouraging in key Western European markets such as the
United Kingdom and France, which experienced an early and sus-
tained recovery. As a result, unit sales there grew by 43% and 45%
respectively. In Germany, unit sales increased by 7% to 62,200 vans.
In Eastern Europe, the increase in unit sales by Mercedes-Benz Vans
grew by a significant double-digit rate (+49%) in 2010.
Mercedes-Benz Vans’ new sales organization in the United States
and Canada was very successful. Since the beginning of 2010,
we have been selling the Sprinter under the Mercedes-Benz and
Freightliner brands through our retail network in North America,
which currently numbers around 180 dealers. We are benefiting
from the market success of the Sprinter, whose outstanding tech-
nology, safety, efficiency and driving performance continually set
new standards in its vehicle segment. During the year under
review, unit sales in the NAFTA region rose to 13,300 vehicles
(2009: 2,600).
Mercedes-Benz Vans sold 12,200 units in 2010 in the rapidly
expanding Chinese market for high-quality vans and premium
multi-purpose vehicles. A total of 10,700 of those vehicles
were manufactured in China, where local production commenced
in spring 2010. By starting local production, we have created
the right conditions to quickly and successfully participate in one
of the world’s largest and fastest-growing automotive markets.
Mercedes-Benz Vans
2010 2009 10/09
Amounts in millions of euros % change
EBIT 451 26 .
Revenue 7, 812 6,215 +26
Return on sales 5.8% 0.4% .
Investment in property,
plant and equipment
91
113 -19
Research and development
expenditure
thereof capitalized
267
29
193
0
+38
.
Production 227,975 156,667 +46
Unit sales 224,224 165,576 +35
Employees (December 31) 14,557 15,226 -4
Unit sales
2010 2009 10/09
% change
Total 224,224 165,576 +35
Western Europe 156,775 128,134 +22
thereof: Germany 62 ,193 58,185 +7
Eastern Europe 16,404 10,980 +49
United States 10,482 1,604 +553
Latin America
(excluding Mexico)
12,528
9,453 +33
China 12 ,151 1,302 +833
Other markets 15,884 14,103 +13