Automaker Daimler rebounds after lockdowns, raises outlook

FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) — Daimler AG, maker of Mercedes-Benz luxury cars and Freightliner trucks, saw third-quarter profit rebound as the company clamped down on costs and as auto sales surged after the coronavirus lockdowns of earlier in the year.

Stuttgart-based Daimler said Friday it was raising its outlook for the year. The company now expects full-year operating earnings to equal those from 2019, before the virus. Previously it said it expected to make a profit below last year's.

Quarterly net profit rose to 2.16 billion euros ($2.54 billion), up 19% from 1.81 billion euros in the same quarter a year ago — and improving on a net loss of 1.9 billion euros from the second quarter during the worst of the lockdown. Sales revenue fell 7% to 40.28 billion euros. The company saw strong cash flow and has 13.1 billion euros in net liquidity, resources it can use to develop new technology such as electric cars and digital services.