Shares were lower in mid-afternoon trade as surging raw materials prices put pressure on automotive and other transport-related stocks.

Automotive stocks were particularly hit by news that oil prices reached a record high last Friday and a prerelease of auto motor und sport magazine which quoted ArcelorMittal's vice president for Automotives Jean-Luc Maurange as saying the company plans to charge higher prices to carmakers due to surging raw materials costs.

Daimler was off 0.99, or 2.48 percent, at 38.89 while BMW was down 0.15, or 0.50 percent, at 30.04.

Another factor contributing to weaker car stocks was Lehman Brothers' removal of Peugeot and Daimler from its Recommended Portfolio List, according to traders.
The only car stock on positive terrain so far was Volkswagen, up 0.86, or 0.48 percent, at 179.92. VW's management board is set to decide July 8 on the site of its new 500 million euro production site in the United States, auto motor und sport reported, citing management sources.