Freightliner back in black (September 01, 2002)
PORTLAND, Ore. – DaimlerChrysler says its Freightliner LLC business unit returned to profitability in the second quarter of 2002.
The company says cost reductions resulting from its aggressive turnaround plan are to thank for the speedy recovery, but it also notes unit sales were up 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, Western Star and Thomas Built, totalled 129,100 vehicles. That’s a one per cent gain from the second quarter of 2001. Operating profit was down $32 million, mainly because of difficult market conditions in South America and parts of Western Europe, the company also adds. Unit sales of the Mercedes-Benz Trucks business unit were up two per cent to 26,600 vehicles. n
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