DaimlerChrysler Lifts Overall Sales of 2004

German-US car giant DaimlerChrysler said Monday that it was able to lift overall vehicle sales last year, thanks to the strong performance of its Chrysler and Smart cars, while sales of its prestigious Mercedes brand declined. DaimlerChrysler said in a statement that it sold a total 3.9 million vehicles worldwide in 2004, 2.1 percent more than in the previous year. Sales of Mercedes-brand cars fell by 3.1 percent to 1.06 million worldwide, as the luxury marque lost ground to arch-rival BMW. By contrast, sales of the ultra-small Smart car powered ahead by 21.1 percent to 139,600 units and Chrysler sales rose by 3.5 percent to 2.7 million vehicles, the group said.