FRANKFURT, Feb. 1 (Xinhua) -- In spite of the simmering diesel scandal, the German auto giant Daimler on Thursday unveiled that it had achieved record sales, revenue and net profit.
The total unit sales hit a new record of 3.3 million vehicles, a 9-percent increase year on year, Daimler which produces Mercedes-brand cars and trucks said in a statement.
The group revenue rose 7 percent year on year to 164.3 billion euros (around 204.55 billion U.S. dollars) and net profit soared 24 percent year on year to 10.9 billion euros.
"The Daimler workforce has once again succeeded in breaking the records set in the previous year," said Dieter Zetsche, Chairman of the Board of Management of Daimler AG and Head of Mercedes-Benz Cars. "Our company stands for stable success in volatile times."
The rosy annual final report for 2017 came at a time when the diesel sandal, which came to light around two years ago, is still haunting the German auto company.
In 2015, some vehicles of the German automaker Volkswagen in the United States were found to have been intentionally programmed to cheat in the emissions testing to make its exhaust look cleaner. The scandal later escalated to cover other German automakers including Daimler that have been boasting with clean diesel technologies.
In a latest scandal, media reports said that humans and monkeys were used in experiments commissioned by the European Research Group of Environment and Health in the Transport Sector (EUGT), a body funded by Volkswagen, Daimler and BMW to test diesel fumes.
In a bid to distance itself from the experiment, Daimler said it does not tolerate or support unethical treatment of animals.
The diesel scandal sparked public debate about diesel cars and the southern German city of Stuttgart, which is home to Mercedes-Benz of Daimler, even mulled a ban of diesel cars which could not conform to high emission standards in inner city areas.
In 2017, Mercedes-Benz unveiled an ambitious initiative to electrify its products. "By 2022, Daimler will electrify the entire portfolio of Mercedes-Benz, offering customers at least one electrified alternative in all Mercedes-model series," the auto maker said in the statement.
Regarding the outlook for 2018, Daimler expects "slight growth" in unit sales and revenue.
The Daimler AG, which is listed on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange, closed down 1.99 percent on Thursday.
