Karl Benz

Germany is celebrating this year the birth of the automobile, with a patent applied for by Carl Benz 125 years ago for a motorized tricycle, in hopes of drawing tourists smitten by cars.

Daimler chairman Dieter Zetsche's salary doubled last year to 8.7 million euros ($12 million) as a result of the automaker's strong results, its annual report said on Wednesday.

FRANKFURT (Reuters) - German carmaker Daimler <DAIGn.DE> posted disappointing fourth-quarter earnings, with an upbeat outlook failing to deliver the detail that analysts said was needed to reassure investors.