Daimler has reported a loss for the first three months of 2009, after a big fall in the sales of its Mercedes-Benz cars and vans. 

The firm's 1.29bn euros ($1.7bn; £1.1bn) net loss compares with a profit of 1.33bn euros a year earlier.

Sales of Mercedes-Benz cars during the quarter were down 27% from the year before to 231,200 vehicles.