Daimler‘s net profit declined 11 per cent after the German car and truck maker raised investments to overcome a sales lead held by rivals BMW and VW Audi. Second-quarter earnings before interest and taxation at the Stuttgart-based automaker declined 13 per cent to Euro 2.2bn. Net profit declined from Euro1.7bn to Euro1.5bn and earnings per share fell 11 per cent to Euro1.34 Total revenues increased 10 per cent to Euro 28.9bn in the period. "Economic uncertainty and risks exist in nearly all regions, however. We therefore remain vigilant in our monitoring of general economic developments and the volatile markets," Dieter Zetsche, chief executive, said in a statement quoted by The Financial Times.