DaimlerChrysler says its Freightliner, Sterling and Thomas Built Buses business unit returned to profitability in the second quarter.

In part the company credited cost reductions resulting from its aggressive turnaround plan, but also noted that unit sales were up 5%, to 29,900 vehicles, due in large part to pre-buying connected with the new emissions regulations that take effect in October.
Unit sales for DaimlerChrysler’s Commercial Vehicles Division, which includes Freightliner, Sterling and Thomas Built, totaled 129,100 vehicles, up 1% from second quarter 2001. Operating profit was down $32 million, mainly because of difficult market conditions in South America and parts of Western Europe, the company said. Unit sales of the Mercedes-Benz Trucks business unit were up 2%, to 26,600 vehicles.
Second quarter revenues for all DaimlerChrysler operations totaled $38.8 billion, down 5% from a year ago. Operating profits, excluding one-time effects, were $1.9 billion compared to $700 million a year ago. The company said this was due primarily to strong improvement in profitability at the Chrysler Group.