DaimlerChrysler posted a $600 million operating profit for third quarter 2001, up 23% from third quarter 2000; but earnings in its Commercial Vehicles Group plunged 94%.

Unit sales by the Commercial Vehicles division declined by 6% to 119,000
vehicles, while revenues increased by 6% to $ 6.5 billion. But operating profit for the group was $16 million, compared to $287 million a year ago. The company blamed Freightliner for much of the drop.
Freightliner’s unit sales for the quarter were 25,100 vehicles, down 19% from a year ago. The drop is due mainly to weaker demand in North America. Unit sales of Mercedes-Benz trucks dropped by 15%, due to weak markets in Argentina and Turkey plus declining Western European demand. Sales of Mercedes-Benz were up 4%. Sales of MB/Setra Buses & Coaches were up 12%.
In all, DaimlerChrysler sold 1 million vehicles worldwide during the third quarter, about the same as third quarter last year. The Mercedes-Benz Passenger Car & Smart division increased its unit sales by 10% to 302,200 vehicles due to the strong demand for the C-Class versions as well as for the A-Class. On the other hand, Chrysler Group unit sales were down 6% from last year due to the general market decline in the U.S.
Including one-time effects, DaimlerChrysler’s operating profit was $1.3 billion. Net income for the quarter was $0.8 billion (compared to $ 2.7 billion in last year's third quarter).
Total revenues declined by 3% to $32.7 billion. Adjusted for changes in the consolidated group, they rose by 2%. The Mercedes-Benz Passenger Cars & Smart and Commercial Vehicles divisions increased their revenues by 10% and 6% respectively. Chrysler Group Revenues declined by 4%.