9 August 2002: DaimlerChrysler's Maybach luxury limousine project is expected to break even within five to six years, according to Mercedes-Benz and Maybach head Juergen Hubbert. This claim is against a background of European industry commentators not expecting the project to make money for at least a decade.

The company plans to sell about 1,000 Maybachs a year and the first customers will take delivery in October. Only about 150 cars will be sold this year.

The United States will be the largest market for the car, which retails for 310,000 euros, and DaimlerChrysler foresees a total potential market of 8,000 customers a year for Maybachs, VW-owned Bentleys and BMW-owned Rolls-Royces.