Daimler sees slow recovery in U.S. market

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Daimler AG (DAIGn.DE) Chief Executive Dieter Zetsche said on Thursday it will take until 2012 or 2013 before the U.S. auto market recovers to the sales levels held before the recent steep decline.

Zetsche, speaking to reporters in New York, also offered a cautious outlook for industry-wide auto sales in 2010, saying the market was likely to be between 10 million and 11 million vehicles.

"I do believe that next year the U.S. market will see some growth to somewhere between 10 million to 11 million (units)," Zetsche said.

The U.S. auto industry has seen sales contract for four straight years. Sales in 2009 are expected to total just above 10 million cars, crossovers and light trucks, down from 13.1 million in 2008.

The Daimler forecast for 2010 sales is more cautious than other industry forecasts, including those from other major auto makers.

CSM Worldwide has forecast industrywide U.S. sales of 11.8 million cars and light trucks for 2010, while J.D. Power is expecting 11.5 million.

Ford Motor Co (F.N), the only U.S. automaker to avoid bankruptcy and the most bullish in its projection for a recovery, has forecast sales of more than 12 million.

General Motors Co GM.UL has said it expects sales of about 11.5 million vehicles in the United States next year.

U.S. sales held above 16 million vehicles per year consistently from 1999 to 2005.

"I do believe that the U.S. market will come back to its former volumes, but that will be in 2012, 2013," Zetsche told reporters.

(Reporting by Matt Daily; writing by Kevin Krolicki; editing by Andre Grenon)