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STUTTGART, Germany, Sept 24 (Reuters) - German automaker DaimlerChrysler AG said on Tuesday 2002 unit sales at its Mercedes cars division could match last year's level, as demand for luxury vehicles bucks a downward industry-wide trend.
"Without being too optimistic, if things continue to develop as they are we could match last year's level, which means we would increase market share in all world markets," Mercedes-Benz chief Juergen Hubbert told reporters.
So far this year, weak macro economic conditions and subdued consumer confidence have led to a 4.3 percent fall in European car sales.
The world's biggest auto market, the United States, is holding up better than expected, due mainly to incentives programmes which move vehicles out of showrooms but eat into carmakers' profit margins.
Mercedes, the earnings driver of the world's fifth largest carmaker, had originally predicted that unit sales would slip 5-6 percent this year from 1.2 million vehicles in 2001, a six percent rise from the previous year.
But by the end of the second quarter, Mercedes said it expected this year's earnings, revenues and unit sales to equal 2001's levels at the division.
At 1105 GMT, DaimlerChrysler shares were down 2.3 percent, performing slightly better than the DJ European Auto Stoxx Index , which was down 2.7 percent.