DaimlerChrysler recorded an operating profit of €891 million in the first quarter of 2006, compared to €628 million for the same period last year. However, the increase in profit was mostly due to better truck and van sales, not Mercedes, Smart Chrysler, Dodge, or Jeep sales. The Mercedes Car Group sold 281,500 vehicles in the first quarter of this year, surpassing the figure for Q1 2005 by 14%. First-quarter revenues increased by 19%. Still, the division reported an operating loss of €678 million (an improvement over last year’s €954 million loss). The Chrysler/Jeep/Dodge operating profit fell to €119 million in the first quarter of this year, compared with an operating profit of €252 million in Q1 2005. Sales of Mercedes and Chrysler cars were both up. In the case of Mercedes, earnings were hurt by massive losses associated with Smart. For the Chrysler Group, incentives were the likely culprit, because sales were up four percent, and revenues were up as well.
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