DaimlerChrysler, one of the world's leading car manufacturers, on Wednesday reported a 37 percent profit fall in the third quarter of this year.

The net income only reached a mere 541 million euros (686 million U.S. dollars) in the July-September period, compared with a profit of 855 million euros (1.07 billion dollars) a year earlier, the German-American company said in a press release.

Earnings per share dropped to 0.53 euros (0.68 dollars) from 0.84 euros(1.06 dollars) in the same period last year, it said.

The DaimlerChrysler group posted an operating loss of 1.164 billion euros (1.466 billion dollars) from July to September this year, compared with an operating profit of 310 million euros (390.6 million dollars).

"The operating loss was primarily the result of a decrease in worldwide factory unit sales, an unfavorable shift in product and market mix, and negative net pricing," the company said.

Source: Xinhua