The carmaker reported a 12% rise in the number of vehicles sold worldwide to 2.9 million units.

Growth was primarily driven by the Mercedes-Benz Cars division (+16%) – helped by the new C-Class, A-Class and revised SUV range – followed by Mercedes-Benz Vans (+9%). Daimler Trucks reported a 1% rise – lower than originally expected, mainly due to weak markets in Latin America and Indonesia.

Group revenue was up by 15% to €149.5bn while operating earnings from ongoing business were up 37% to €13.8bn.

Daimler predicted further growth in revenue and operating earnings for 2016 and added that “due to the very attractive and highly competitive product ranges of all the divisions, the group assumes that it will profit to an above-average extent from the anticipated slight growth in global demand for automobiles, thus strengthening its position in major markets and further increasing its unit sales”.

“2015 was a good year for Daimler,” said Dr Dieter Zetsche, chairman of the Board of Management of Daimler AG. “We know from experience: Getting to the top is hard, but staying at the top is even harder. That’s our ambition: Daimler belongs at the top on a sustained basis.”