German automaker Daimler posts 8 percent Q2 growth, boosted by strong Mercedes-Benz sales

In this Jan 28, 2015 picture an employee attaches a Mercedes emblem as he assembles a Mercedes-Benz S-class model at the plant in Sindelfingen, Germany. Daimler will present its second quarter earning Thursday, July 23, 2015. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader) (The Associated Press)

prev next

In this Jan. 28, 2015 picture an employee of the Mercedes-Benz AG checks a S-Class model at the plant in Sindelfingen, Germany. Daimler will present its second quarter earning Thursday, July 23, 2015. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader) (The Associated Press)

In this June 23, 2015 photo a man works on a van at the Mercedes-Benz automobile plant in Ludwigsfelde, near Berlin, Germany. Daimler will present its second quarter earning Thursday, July 23, 2015. (Photo/Michael Sohn) (The Associated Press)

BERLIN – German automaker Daimler says net profit rose 8 percent in the second quarter, boosted by strong sales, particularly of its Mercedes-Benz cars.

Daimler AG said Thursday net profit in April through June rose to 2.372 billion euros ($2.59 billion), compared to 2.196 billion euros in the same quarter last year.

Sales were up 14 percent over the second quarter of 2014, with 714,800 passenger cars and commercial vehicles sold.

Daimler says Mercedes-Benz cars had its best quarter so far for unit sales, with growth of 20 percent to 500,700 vehicles sold. That helped offset drops in the smaller Daimler truck and bus units.

Board member Bodo Uebber says with the results, "we continue to grow profitably and are on the right track to fulfill our forecasts for the year 2015."