Mercedes 2012 Annual Report Download - page 150

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Growth in the Americas region. New business in the Americas
region increased compared with the prior year by 16% to
€14.6 billion in 2012. Business developments were particularly
positive in Canada (+27%), the United States (+22%) and
Mexico (+19%). However, new business in Brazil declined due
to the general economic development there. Contract volume
in the Americas region increased by 11% to a total of €34.1
billion at the end of the year under review.
Dynamic growth in Asia. The Africa & Asia-Pacific region
once again recorded the strongest growth in 2012. At €5.3
billion, new business was up by 17% from the prior year.
In Japan, the volume of new leasing and financing contracts rose
by 43% to €1.4 billion. Total contract volume in the Africa &
Asia-Pacific region reached €11.3 billion, which is 14% higher
than in 2011. In August 2012, Daimler Financial Services
became the first automotive financial services provider in China’s
premium segment to offer leasing contracts. Financing activi-
ties designed to support the Group’s new BharatBenz commercial
vehicle brand in India were successfully launched last year.
In Malaysia, the new Mercedes-Benz Services Malaysia subsid-
iary began operating in November.
Insurance business passes the one-million mark. In the
insurance business, Daimler Financial Services brokered over
one million policies for the first time in one year. The number
of new insurance contracts signed increased by 13% to approx-
imately 1,100,000. Policies brokered in China were up by 22%
compared with 2011, while our Russian subsidiary recorded
nearly twice as many policies as in the prior year. Our cooperation
with major insurance partners makes it possible for Mercedes-
Benz customers to obtain exclusive vehicle insurance conditions
for the brand’s typical safety features. In the event that a
vehicle of one of our customers is damaged, it will be repaired
in authorized workshops by highly skilled mechanics using
genuine Mercedes-Benz spare parts. This arrangement also sup-
ports the Group’s service centers and spare parts business.
Further growth in new business and contract volume.
Business at Daimler Financial Services once again developed
favorably in 2012. New business increased by 14% to the
record figure of €38.1 billion. Contract volume, which expresses
the value of all leasing and financing contracts managed by
Daimler Financial Services, rose by 12% to €80.0 billion. Adjusted
for exchange-rate effects, contract volume increased by 13%.
EBIT of €1,292 million was at the same level as in the prior year
(€1,312 million).

4.09
Positive business development in Europe. Daimler Financial
Services concluded new financing and leasing contracts
worth €18.2 billion in the Europe region in 2012. The development
of new business was particularly dynamic in Russia (+127%),
Turkey (+43%) and the United Kingdom (+39%). Contract volume
in Europe totaled €34.5 billion at the end of the year under
review, which is an increase of 11% compared to 2011. In
Germany, the contract volume of Mercedes-Benz Bank increased
by 4% to €17.8 billion.
In 2012, we successfully completed the realignment of
Mercedes-Benz Bank and the transfer of Daimler Financial
Services’ global headquarters from Berlin to Stuttgart.
We expect the resulting efficiency gains to generate savings
of more than €10 million each year. At €12.1 billion,
Mercedes-Benz Bank’s deposit volume in the direct banking
business was 10% higher than a year earlier.
Daimler Financial Services
Daimler Financial Services achieved further growth in new business and contract volume in 2012.
We expanded our financial services portfolio particularly in Asia. By the end of 2012, our car2go
mobility concept was being used by some 270,000 customers in 18 cities. Daimler Financial
Services once again received awards in the areas of customer satisfaction, dealer satisfaction
and employer attractiveness.
Daimler Financial Services
2012 2011 12/11
Amounts in millions of euros % change
EBIT 1,292 1,312 -2
Revenue 13,550 12,080 +12
New business 38,076 33,521 +14
Contract volume 79,986 71,730 +12
Investment in property, plant,
and equipment
23 21 +10
Employees (December 31) 7,779 7,065 +10
4.09