FRANKFURT (Reuters) - Mercedes-Benz on Tuesday reported lower first-quarter profits and sales that were in line with expectations, adding it would hold and defend high pricing levels seen in the first quarter.

The group's earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) fell 29.8% to 3.86 billion euros, compared with the 3.87 billion LSEG estimate.

(Reporting by Christoph Steitz; Editing by Miranda Murray)