Operating profit for the period dropped to just below £464m compared with the £569m recorded in the second quarter last year (including Smart). The company blames difficult market conditions for a 4% drop in worldwide unit sales so far this year, but expects new product launches (including C-class, SLK and Smart Forfour from the first half of the year, and A-Class – though not in UK showrooms until spring 2005 – and CLS coupe in the second half) to fully offset the decline by year-end.
Parent DaimlerChrysler, however, reports an overall 225% rise in quarterly operating profit year-on-year to almost £1.4bn, thanks to increased earnings at Chrysler, the CV and Services divisions.
If you are not a registered user your comment will go to AM for approval before publishing. To avoid this requirement please register or login.
Comment as guest
Comments
No comments have been made yet.