Daimler hit by fall in sales

• Sales of its Mercedes-Benz brand slump
• New car sales fall by 27% in first quarter
• German workers have their hours cut

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German car maker Daimler has reported a €1.29 billion (£1.1 billion) loss for the first three months of 2009.

The deficit follows a large fall in the sales of cars and vans from its Mercedes-Benz brand.

Daimler's £1.1 billion shortfall compares with a profit of around £1.1 billion for the same period last year.

Sales of Mercedes-Benz cars were down 27% over the first period of this year, with 231,200 vehicles sold.

Daimler is continuing its cost-cutting measures, which have already resulted in shorter hours for 68,000 of its 141,000 workforce.