December Auto Sales: DaimlerChrysler

NEW YORK | BUSINESSWEEK - - German and American automaker DaimlerChrysler AG on Wednesday said its December sales in the U.S. fell 1 percent, due mostly to softness at its Mercedes-Benz luxury division.

The company said it sold 218,530 vehicles last month, compared to 220,641 vehicles during the same period a year ago. Adjusted to reflect one fewer selling days this December than last, sales rose 2.9 percent.

DaimlerChrysler said sales at its Chrysler Group rose 1 percent to 190,415 vehicles from $189,449 vehicles last year, while sales at Mercedes-Benz USA declined 9.9 percent to 28,115 vehicles from 31,192 vehicles a year ago. On an adjusted basis, Chrysler sales advanced 4.4 percent and Mercedes sales fell 6.4 percent.

For the year, DaimlerChrysler sales fell 5.5 percent to 2,390,585 vehicles from 2,529,254 vehicles in 2005. Adjusted for one fewer selling days this year, sales fell 1.9 percent.

Shares of DaimlerChrysler hit a new 52-week high of $62.67 before slipping back to $62.57, up $1.16, in midday trading on the New York Stock Exchange.