DaimlerChrysler E class sales strong

FRANKFURT, June 1 - DaimlerChrysler is struggling to satisfy demand for its new Mercedes E-Class and its Chrysler unit could post a profit this year if the U.S. upturn persists, the autos group chief said in remarks published on Saturday.

DaimlerChrysler <DCXGn.DE> Chief Executive Juergen Schrempp said there was a waiting list of six months for the E-Class, of which 26,000 have been delivered since its launch in mid-March.

"In total we want to sell 200,000 E-Class cars this year," he said in an interview with the Stuttgarter Zeitung.

Schrempp said U.S. business was going better than expected and the group now estimated that more than 16 million cars could be sold in the United States this year, compared to an original forecast of 15-16 million.

April was a "very good" month for Detroit-based Chrysler, which is emerging from a costly restucturing programme, and May was also looking good, he added.

"If the trend continues, Chrysler could post a profit this year rather than breaking even," he said.

Chrysler sales rose three percent in April, thanks to strong demand for pickups and sport utility vehicles.

Chrysler posted an adjusted operating profit of 127 million euros in the first quarter of 2002, compared to a loss of 1.4 billion euros a year ago.

DaimlerChrysler said last month that sales of its Mercedes-Benz brand cars totalled a record 101,400 units in April, up three percent from the same month a year ago.

Mercedes-Benz accounted for more than 60 percent of group operating profits of 1.02 billion euros in the first quarter, maintaining its customary role as the money spinner.