Mercedes 2012 Annual Report Download - page 15

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About 2.2 million times – that’s how often people around the world opted for
a vehicle from your company last year; more than ever before. Revenue was
also the highest in our history. Net profit amounted to 6.5 billion euros. Based
on these results, the Board of Management and the Supervisory Board will
propose the distribution of a dividend at last year’s high level of 2.20 euros per
share so that you continue to benefit from the Daimler Group’s success.
What were the most important developments at our divisions?
At Mercedes-Benz Cars, we achieved record sales in 2012. Our new products
performed especially well. The new A-Class was our most successful market
launch of all time: Its conquest rate is already 40 percent, meaning that two out
of every five A-Class customers previously drove another brand. Our B-Class
and sport-utility vehicles also sold better than ever before in 2012. In addition,
our M-Class was the market leader in its segment. The same was true for
our S-Class – for the eighth year in a row and in spite of the forthcoming model
changeover this year.
At Daimler Trucks, our global orientation bore fruit: Despite what were in
part weaker markets, we were able once more to significantly increase our total
sales. At the same time, we expanded our product portfolio around the world.
In Europe, with our Mercedes-Benz Antos, we launched our first truck specifically
for heavy-duty distribution. At the same time, we introduced the Fuso Canter
Eco Hybrid, the most economical hybrid truck in the world. In India, our new truck
brand BharatBenz made a successful start; and in China, we began local
production of trucks under the Auman brand in our joint venture with Foton.
At Mercedes-Benz Vans, the upward sales trend in North and Latin America
somewhat offset the weakness in our key Western European market, but could
not fully compensate for it. Therefore, it’s all the more important that we
develop new market segments: And that’s exactly what we’re doing with our
new Citan city van.
Daimler Buses was once again the market leader in the segment of buses
above 8 tons in its core markets. However, in Latin America we were confronted
with very low demand for our bus chassis. As a result, total unit sales of buses
decreased. Also in this division, we are countering weak markets with strong new
products, such as the Mercedes-Benz Citaro Euro VI and a new generation
of travel coaches from our top Setra brand.