Berlin — Daimler’s third-quarter operating profit declined, as the cost of making diesel engine cars run cleaner and other special items outweighed record sales of Mercedes-Benz luxury models.Earnings before interest and tax (ebit) at the German automotive group plunged 14% to €3.46bn in the three months to end-September, Daimler said on Friday, in line with the €3.43bin consensus forecast in a Reuters poll of banks and brokerages.Last quarter, Daimler spent €223m to update more than 3-million current and older Mercedes diesel models in Europe to curb pollution and help avert driving bans.A recall of more than 1-million passenger cars and sport-utility vehicles worldwide to address potential unintended airbag deployments announced this week would add another €230m in costs, it said.The cars and trucks manufacturer stuck with its guidance for a significant increase in group ebit this year.It said it now expected ebit at its trucks division to also significantly exceed year-ago levels...
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