Associated Press

FRANKFURT, Germany -- Automaker Daimler AG said Tuesday its Mercedes-
Benz Cars unit reported a 22 percent increase in worldwide sales last
month as increased demand in Asia more than offset a decline in the
United States.

The unit, which includes the brands Mercedes-Benz, AMG, Smart and
Maybach, sold 119,000 cars in April compared with the 97,800 it sold
in April 2007.

The Stuttgart-based company said its new C-Class posted strong growth
worldwide, with sales of sedan and station wagon models for the month
of April rising to a record of 35,600, an 88 percent increase from the
18,900 sold last year.

The company said its A- and B-Class models also saw an 18 percent
increase in deliveries to 23,800, compared with 20,200 a year ago,
citing strong demand in western Europe, including Germany.

Sales in Asia climbed 24 percent to 11,800 vehicles, also reaching a
new record compared with the 9,500 it sold in April of 2007. In the
U.S., Mercedes-Benz delivered 20,300 vehicles to customers, down 3
percent from the 20,900 in April of 2007.

Since the beginning of the year, the carmaker has delivered 437,700
vehicles, a 14 percent increase from the 384,600 in the same period a
year ago.

Shares of Daimler were down more than half a percent to 50.28 euros
($77.73) in trading in Frankfurt.