Daimler AG board members Andreas Renschler (L) and Bodo Uebber (R), and CEO Dieter Zetsche (C), pose Thursday for photographers next to a Mercedes-Benz at the German auto giant's annual conference in Stuttgart, Germany. Daimler said that its net profit rose by 8 percent to 6.495 billion euros ($8.8 billion) in 2012 on the back of record unit sales and revenues. Photo: AFP