German car maker Daimler AG (DAI.XE) Wednesday said global sales at its core Mercedes-Benz Cars division rose 0.2% on the year in June, leading to strong first half year results driven by strong demand in the U.S. market.

MAIN FACTS:

-"Despite difficult market conditions in Southern Europe, we remain on course for record sales," Mercedes-Benz sales chief Joachim Schmidt said in a statement.

-The division's global sales rose to 131,139 units in June.

-The division's sales in the January-to-June period were up 6.5% compared to the same period last year at 708,517 cars.

-The division comprises the Mercedes-Benz, Smart and Maybach brands.

-Mercedes-Benz brand sales in June rose 0.9% on the year to 121,542 cars.

-Mercedes-Benz brand January-to-June car sales increased 6.9% to 652,924 vehicles.

-Smart brand June car sales dropped 7% to 9,597 vehicles.

-Smart brand January-to-June sales rose 1.4%% to 55,593 cars.

-Write to the Frankfurt Bureau at djnews.frankfurt@dowjones.com