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.July 28, 2004
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This Week:

• Extensive Facelift for the Mazda Tribute

• Four Wheels Go Six Feet Under as Two American Families Bury Their Vehicles in Front Yards

• GM Breaks Ground For $385 Million Engineering Centralization Business Unit

• Go-ahead for the BMW Group Scientific Award 2005

• In-car cinema in the Volkswagen Touran

• Toyota's New Corporate Advertising Campaign Highlights U.S. Job Creation

• DaimlerChrysler Posts Record Sales of 22,200 Passenger Cars in China in First Half of 2004

• Nissan Unveils Business Strategy For Thai Operations

• The Year Of The Car And More In 2005

• New Innovations In Manufacturing Will Further Improve GM's Quality

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DaimlerChrysler Posts Record Sales of 22,200 Passenger Cars in China in First Half of 2004
 

Strong growth for all Mercedes-Benz passenger car production series Beijing Jeep expects sales to double to 40,000 vehicles in 2004 Successful introduction of Maybach luxury brand to China - three Maybach Centers to be opened in second half of 2004 Stuttgart/Beijing - In the first half of 2004, DaimlerChrysler considerably expanded its business activities in the rapidly growing Chinese market. Beijing Jeep (BJC) performed very well in the first two quarters of the year despite a declining market environment. DaimlerChrysler and the Beijing Automotive Industry Holding Company Ltd. (BAIC) have been operating this joint venture for the local production of passenger cars since 1983.

DaimlerChrysler significantly increased its passenger car sales in China by 173 percent to 22,200 vehicles in the first half of the year. For 2004 as a whole, DaimlerChrysler expects sales to increase by about 75 percent. "Over the medium term, China has the same sales potential as important European markets," says Prof. Jürgen Hubbert, Member of the Board of Management of DaimlerChrysler AG, responsible for the Mercedes Car Group. "The outstanding result for the first half of the year makes us confident that we can successfully implement our long-term growth plans in China."

In the first six months of the year, sales of Mercedes-Benz passenger cars grew notably faster than the market as a whole. Through June, 5,500 cars were delivered to customers, which was 70 percent more than in the same period in 2003. All production series contributed to this success by posting substantial growth rates. This was particularly the case in the luxury segment, in which the S Class further extended its leading market position. Sales of the S-Class rose by 40 percent to 3,500 units during the first half of the year, thus accounting for around two-thirds of all the Mercedes-Benz passenger cars sold in China. The growth posted by the E Class was even more pronounced, with sales leaping by 170 percent to 1,300 automobiles. DaimlerChrysler aims to increase the total sales of Mercedes-Benz passenger cars in China to a new sales record this year. The medium-term goal is to boost sales to 50,000 vehicles.

To enable the Group to benefit even more from China's growing market, DaimlerChrysler and BAIC are planning to produce Mercedes-Benz passenger cars in China. Over the medium-term the joint venture aims to manufacture about 25,000 C and E Class vehicles annually.

In the first half of 2004, the DaimlerChrysler joint venture Beijing Jeep Corporation sold 16,700 passenger cars of the Chrysler and Jeep brand as well as the alliance partner Mitsubishi, 240 percent more than in the same period last year. DaimlerChrysler was particularly able to build on its leading position in the SUV segment, thanks to the strong demand for the latest Jeep models and for the license-produced Mitsubishi Outlander and Pajero Sport. "The market success of our current production series and the good prospects for the second half of the year clearly demonstrate that we have achieved a turnaround at Beijing Jeep Corporation and that the groundwork has been laid for further substantial growth," says Roman Fischer, Chairman and CEO of DaimlerChrysler China Ltd.

At the Auto China motor show in June, DaimlerChrysler handed over the first two Maybach high-end luxury sedans to their new Chinese owners. The brand will strengthen its market presence in China later this year, when Maybach Centers will be opened in Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou.

(July 26, 2004)