And so consumer electronics and the automobile have become more and more tightly interlinked in recent years, because the objective of the two respective industries was and is the same: independence for the customer. Mercedes-Benz realizes this independence not only through the automobile itself. Rather, innovative telematics and infotainment systems in the vehicle and new mobility concepts afford still greater flexibility and freedom. Mercedes-Benz provides a visionary perspective with the “DICE” (Dynamic & Intuitive Control Experience) sculpture.

“Here at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas there are some people who view the automobile as an accessory to consumer electronics. Conversely, at the auto show in Detroit there are many people who view consumer electronics as mere trimmings for the car. Both points of view miss the point: as much as a smartphone can be far more than just a tool for communication, a smart car can be more than just a means of transportation. Precisely at the interfaces between communication and mobility, vast potential for innovation lies dormant, and we intend to tap it,” says Dr. Dieter Zetsche, Chairman of the Board of Management of Daimler AG and Head of Mercedes-Benz Cars.

Mercedes-Benz satisfies the growing customer need for independence with its telematics strategy @yourCOMAND: the car becomes a mobile communications center that enables driver and passengers to access all modern media and services at any time. Uncoupling from the conventional vehicle development cycles is achieved on the one hand through secure and comfortable integration of the smartphone in the vehicle, and on the other hand through the use of a consistently Cloud-based solution. This ensures that one is always in close touch with the rapid developments in the smartphone and computer world. Mercedes-Benz customers consequently always have access to the latest applications for comprehensive connectivity in their automobiles.

@yourCOMAND builds on four strategic pillars:
- holistic experience,
- natural interaction,
- sensory perfection and
- convenient remote control.

Digital Premium through Augmented Reality
With the DICE (Dynamic & Intuitive Control Experience) sculpture, at the CES Mercedes-Benz provides a vision of the interactive, intuitive and simultaneously safe operating experience in premium automobiles of the future. DICE impressively demonstrates how the vehicle becomes an intelligent mobility partner through bidirectional interaction.

“The intelligent car communicates not only with the driver, but also with other transportation modes and its entire environment in order to be able to assess all relevant information for a trip and make practical use of it immediately,” says Zetsche.

The complete windshield becomes a brilliant head-up display; the dashboard, a display band. Digital information about the actual vehicle surroundings, points of interest, friends, pedestrians and other vehicles is presented there and a natural interaction by means of gestures is made possible. For this Mercedes-Benz uses a combination of Augmented Reality and natural gesture control to realize a completely new, exciting form of communication between people and their environment.

The interactive logic of the novel control concept is very imitative of intuitive human behavior. Along with functional aspects it now also involves emotional and social aspects and so creates a unique operating and driving experience. For example, when one drives past a club, by a simple movement of the hand one can transmit the music playing there by live stream into one’s car. In the same way, local news from social networks, about points of interest, buildings or localities can be retrieved, or news can be left for others.
Vehicles approaching intersections will be virtually superimposed on the windshield to help avoid possibly hazardous situations. To simplify the search for a parking space, mobility concepts like car2go or network information, can be used to proactively identify spaces which will become vacant soon. These are virtually displayed on the windshield, showing the actual environment.

A world first is the context-dependent, place-related presentation of the menu contents “Media”, “Social” and “Places” of the infotainment system as information swarm. Under “Social”, for example, friends from one’s social networks are shown in the 3-D city arranged underneath. The same goes for “Places”, where the personal points of interest like restaurants or movie theaters can be stored. 3-D gestures and the swarm permit dynamic and intuitive control.

“Always on” with COMAND Online
Secure and comfortable internet access in the car already is offered by Mercedes-Benz today in numerous models: the multimedia system COMAND Online was introduced last year in Europe. It offers new functions like the innovative Mercedes-Benz Apps, for example Google Local Search including Google Street View and Panoramio, or Facebook. With mbrace2 in future they are available in the USA as well.

And for a sound experience on the highest level, Mercedes-Benz has introduced the new FrontBass system. The automaker thus revolutionizes the reproduction of bass sounds in the automobile – specifically in open roadsters. The unique FrontBass system which is premiering in the new SL and is being presented at the CES uses cavities in the aluminum bodyshell structures in front of the footwell as resonance volume for the bass loudspeakers. The result: crisp basses make a concert hall atmosphere possible even in an open-top car.

Independent, flexible and spontaneous with car2go
Tremendous technological advances and the stronger interlinkage of consumer electronics and the automobile have also made new mobility concepts possible. In particular, the introduction of mobile internet access exploits independence in the area of mobile services for new mobility concepts like car2go, which meet with correspondingly high demand and extend the urban transportation spectrum.

Thanks to the smartphone, not only is constant access to information of all kinds a reality, but also the possibility of communicating at any time, be it through speech input, email or in social networks. Accordingly, car2go allows customers to get hold of a vehicle at any time, whenever they need it.

The vehicles can be located through the internet, can be rented on the spur of the moment, used as long as one likes, and afterwards simply parked again in any public parking space within the city limits. Urban mobility couldn’t be more spontaneous and flexible today.

car2go already is operating in seven cities worldwide and is scheduled to start in further cities. In North America car2go has taken up service in Austin, the capital of the State of Texas, in Vancouver, Canada, and in San Diego, California – in San Diego with a pure electric fleet consisting of 300 smart fortwo electric drive, making this America’s first and biggest purely electrically operated car sharing fleet.

Always up to date
To make optimum use of consumer electronics’ innovative power and fast time to market for the automobile industry, the company has been cooperating closely with this innovative sector for many years. This is because the market for infotainment and telematics systems is decisively influenced by developments in consumer electronics and the mobile telephony market. In 1995 Mercedes-Benz was thus the first carmaker to set up a research and development facility of its own in Palo Alto, California, and since then has a presence in Silicon Valley in the immediate vicinity of Apple, Google, Facebook, Twitter, Pandora, Yelp, Wikipedia and other important players. The collaboration with these companies is based on short communication channels and distinguished by close cooperation and joint product innovations with big customer benefits. The result, achieved in close cooperation with the Development units in Germany, is custom-tailored infotainment and telematics solutions which are optimally integrated into the overall vehicle design and enable customers to continue their digital lifestyle in the vehicle without interruption.

Source: Daimler AG

Daimler and Nissan will produce Mercedes-Benz 4-cylinder gasoline engines together at Nissan’s powertrain assembly plant in Decherd, Tenn. Production will begin in 2014, with installed capacity of 250,000 units per year once full ramp–up is achieved. The Decherd facility will produce engines for Mercedes-Benz and Infiniti models.

“This is the newest milestone in our pragmatic collaboration and our most significant project outside of Europe so far,” said Renault-Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn. “Localized capacity reduces exposure to foreign exchange rates while rapidly enabling a good business development in North America – a win-win for the Alliance and Daimler.”

The collaboration marks the first production of Mercedes-Benz engines in the North America Free Trade region. The Tennessee plant’s strategic location and logistics links ensure a direct supply of engines starting in 2014 for the Mercedes-Benz C-Class, built at Daimler’s vehicle plant in Tuscaloosa, Ala.

“In the context of our Mercedes-Benz 2020 growth strategy, we have decided that we will expand the production capacities required for this close to the customers. Through the strategic extension of our cooperation with Renault-Nissan we can realize near-market engine production in the NAFTA region on attractive economic terms and make optimum use of synergies arising from the cooperation.” Dr. Dieter Zetsche, Chairman of the Daimler Board of Management and Head of Mercedes-Benz Cars, said. “Thus we are systematically broadening our manufacturing footprint in this important growth market.”

Nissan began powertrain assembly in Decherd in 1997. Today it manufactures 4-, 6- and 8-cylinder engines for the complete lineup of U.S.-produced Nissan and Infiniti vehicles. The plant also houses crankshaft forging and cylinder block casting operations. In 2011, Decherd produced more than 580,000 engines on a covered area of more than 1.2 million square feet (111,000 square meters).

Project portfolio expands
Daimler and the Renault-Nissan Alliance launched their strategic collaboration in April 2010, including an equity exchange that gives the Renault-Nissan Alliance a 3.1 percent stake in Daimler and Daimler a combined 3.1 percent interest in Renault and Nissan.

The collaboration began with three project pillars:

- Joint smart/Twingo architecture: The project is on track for launch in the early first quarter of 2014. Two-seater smart vehicles will be produced at Daimler’s plant in Hambach, France, and four-seater smart and Renault production are slated for Renault’s plant in Novo Mesto, Slovenia.

- All-new entry-level city van project for Mercedes-Benz: The project is on schedule with expected launch in late 2012.

- Powertrain cross-supply: The Alliance is supplying Daimler with compact three-cylinder gasoline engines to be used in smart and Twingo vehicles and four-cylinder diesel engines to be used in the jointly developed light commercial vehicle and in Mercedes-Benz’s next generation of premium compact cars. Daimler will supply Nissan and Infiniti with four- and six-cylinder gasoline and diesel engines from the current and future engine portfolio as well as with automatic transmissions.

Since its founding in April 2010, the collaboration has been gradually expanded. In addition to the announcement this week about North American engine production, the companies had decided earlier to partner on:

- Platform sharing: Infiniti plans to base a premium compact vehicle on the Mercedes compact-car architecture, starting in 2014.

- Zero-emission vehicles: Daimler will provide batteries from its production facility in Kamenz, Germany, and Renault-Nissan will provide electric motors for the use in electric vehicles (smart and Twingo ZE). First releases will occur in 2014.

Source: Daimler AG

2011 was also the best sales year in the history of the brand Mercedes-Benz Cars. With 1,260,912 units sold and an increase of 8.0% compared to the prior year the previous sales record of 2007 (1,185,200 units) was clearly exceeded. Since the beginning of the year sales of the brand with the star have been up every month. Particularly successful was the sales development in the fourth quarter. 341,624 delivered units made it the best-selling quarter in the company’s history. In December alone, worldwide deliveries rose by 15.1% to 124,387 vehicles despite the very good result achieved already in December 2010. Thus last month, more vehicles were sold than ever before in this period.

“We’re very satisfied with our sales development. In 2011 we sold more vehicles than ever before,” says Dr. Dieter Zetsche, CEO of Daimler AG and Head of Mercedes-Benz Cars. “We also set the course for the future: The newly introduced generation of the C-Class, the C-Class coupe, the SLK, and the CLS are extremely popular among customers. The same applies to the new B-Class and new M-Class, which were introduced in Europe only recently. The full-year 2011 was also shaped by our strong development in important growth markets such as the BRIC countries and positive development in the U.S.”

Positive outlook for 2012 – new models to provide additional momentum
The year 2012 provides a good base to pursue last year’s success. Dr. Zetsche: “In 2012 we will consequently continue our product offensive and launch additional attractive vehicles on the market, which will give us a further boost. The vehicles will be spearheaded by the new A-Class, which will allow the brand to reach out more strongly to younger target groups. The new CLS Shooting Brake will underscore our leading role when it comes to innovative vehicle concepts and design.”

The new SL will also celebrate its market launch in 2012 just in time for the model series’ 60th anniversary. After the successful introduction of the new M-Class in 2011, additional demand will be generated in the SUV segment by the new GL, the new generations of the GLK and the time-honored G-Class.

Once again sales record in China, Russia, and India; dynamic development in Brazil
Mercedes-Benz continued to do outstandingly well in China (including Hong Kong) last year, where the brand surpassed its sales record of 2010 by 30.6%. The brand therefore substantially exceeded its full-year target of increasing sales in China by at least 20%. A total of 193,339 customers opted for a vehicle bearing the Mercedes star. In December alone, 23,227 people purchased a new Mercedes-Benz passenger car (+29.5%).
Over the past twelve months, Mercedes-Benz did also well in all other BRIC countries. The previous year’s record sales were substantially exceeded in both Russia (29,058 units; +47.3%) and India (7,089 units; +22.7%). In Brazil the brand built on the dynamic development of 2010, boosting sales by 35.3% in full-year 2011, to 10,197 vehicles. Summed up, Mercedes-Benz therefore reported a sales increase of 32.4% in the BRIC-countries in 2011.

Over the past twelve months, Mercedes-Benz also saw sales rise to all-time highs among others in Taiwan (+31.7%), South Korea (+18.8%), Mexico (+17.7%), Denmark (+15.0%), and Sweden (+12.2%). The development in Japan is also notable. Despite the strong earthquake in March and the serious consequences for the country, Mercedes-Benz sold 7.1% more vehicles in Japan last year (32,405 units) than in 2010.

Outstanding development in the U.S.; record sales in Canada and the entire NAFTA region
As in 2010, Mercedes-Benz posted double-digit growth in the U.S. and grew faster than the total market. From January to December 2011, sales rose by 13.3% to 245,231 units. Thus the United States were once again the brand’s second-largest market. Driven by the new generation of the C-Class and the new M-Class, sales of Mercedes-Benz vehicles rose to 25,701 units in December (+27.9%). In Canada a total of 28,584 (+1.8%) vehicles with the Mercedes star were sold during 2011. Following the record set in 2010, this result represents a new all-time high. Mercedes-Benz also achieved a record result in the entire NAFTA region in 2011, with sales amounting to 279,946 vehicles (+12.2%).

Mercedes-Benz leads Germany’s premium segment in 2011
In Germany Mercedes-Benz has been the Number One automaker in the premium segment since 1993. Despite the sometimes limited availability of the high-volume A- and B-Class due to the changeover of production to the new models, the brand’s sales in its home market totaled 262,256 vehicles in 2011, which was almost as high as in the previous year (2010: 265,000 units). In December sales of the brand with the star rose by 16.8% (25,290 units). In Western Europe (excluding Germany) deliveries also nearly matched the previous year’s level (2010: 291,853 units) at 289,285 units in the past twelve months. A sales increase was recorded among others in the UK (+10.1%).

New generation of the C-Class with outstanding customer response – sedan model leader in its segment
In 2011 the C-Class confirmed the vehicle’s standing as a very successful model also with its new generation. In the C-Class segment, Mercedes-Benz recorded growth of 16.8% over the past twelve months to 401,340 units. Very popular and once again the most successful model in its segment during the year as a whole was the C-Class sedan. A total of 270,968 units were delivered to customers (+8.1%). In the year of the facelift, deliveries of the C-Class estate rose to a new all-time high of 76,446 vehicles (+21.6%). Demand for the new C-Class coupe has also been very high ever since the vehicle was launched on the market last June. To date, 23,698 units of the sporty coupe have been delivered to customers. The SLK also did well last year, with 26,756 customers buying one of the roadsters from January through December 2011. This corresponds to an increase of 85.7%.

E-Class segment attains new record result in 2011
Following the record sales of the previous year, sales in the E-Class segment rose by 4.7% in 2011 to a new all-time high (338,386 units). Deliveries of the E-Class sedan and estate totaled 244,341 units last year (2010: 252,775 units). 32,533 customers opted to buy the CLS model, which was introduced in January 2011 (+210.4%).

Sales of S-Class sedan surpass previous year’s high level
Despite having to face much younger competitor models, the S-Class sedan once again increased sales compared to the prior year. Since the car’s market launch in 2005 more than 440,000 units of the brand’s flagship vehicle have been sold. Sales of the CL also rose, with deliveries increasing by 6.9%. The SLS AMG has also met with a great response from customers. More than 5,000 units of the super sports car have already been sold since the vehicle was launched on the market in March 2010.

At more than 200 units, sales of the high-end luxury sedan Maybach were higher than in each of the two previous years.

SUVs post monthly record sales from January through December
The SUVs from Mercedes-Benz enjoyed another great year in 2011. They achieved new sales records each month from January through December, enabling them to surpass last year’s record figure by 24.0% (248,574 units). More customers decided to buy a GLK than ever before in a single year (93,836 units; +24.0%). The compact SUV is also popular in China, where it has been produced for the local market since early December. All other model series did very well throughout the world in 2011, increasing sales substantially compared to the previous year. Sales of the R-Class rose by 45.5%, while those of the G-Class increased by 28.3%. The GL boosted sales by 28.2%, and deliveries of the M-Class increased by 17.9% despite the model changeover.

B-Class does well during phase-out
In spite of production changes resulting from the B-Class model changeover and the associated limited availability of A- and B-Class models, Mercedes-Benz sold 194,133 units in this segment last year (2010: 222,373 units). Sales of the B-Class even continued to increase until shortly before the new model was launched on the market.

Sales of smart fortwo pass 100,000 mark
The smart fortwo did extremely well in 2011. Sales passed the target of 100,000 units, rising to 101,996 vehicles (+4.6%). Dr. Dieter Zetsche: “The development of the smart fortwo last year by far exceeded our expectations. Also for 2012, all lights are on green. The third generation of the smart fortwo electric drive and the smart ebike are two genuine highlights that will be introduced in the coming twelve months. We expect them to give the brand another boost.” In full-year 2011 the innovative two-seater was especially popular in China (including Hong Kong), where a total of 11,045 buyers drove home from the dealership in a smart fortwo (2010: 3,900 units). The smart fortwo also posted very high growth rates in other countries, including Mexico (+57.1%), Poland (+50.7%), the Czech Republic (+26.6%), and Taiwan (+21.4%). In Germany the smart fortwo defended its segment leadership throughout the year, with customers buying a total of 29,005 units (+3.3%). More than 1.5 million units of the brand have been sold since the first generation of the compact urban vehicle was introduced on the market in 1998.

Source: Daimler AG

It was an eventful era that ushered in groundbreaking technical developments for the evolution of the automobile. In this period the automobile became an important mode of transport and powerful item of sports equipment, new plants were set up, and in 1926 the Daimler-Motoren-Gesellschaft from Stuttgart merged with Benz & Cie. from Mannheim to create Daimler-Benz AG, thus giving rise to the Mercedes-Benz brand. But these decades also bore witness to the First World War and the Great Depression, along with the massive blaze that engulfed the Daimler plant in Cannstatt.

This era must actually have left behind a wealth of documentary records. And yet anyone looking in the mid-1930s for a central location where documents would cast light on the former Daimler-Benz in this period would be sadly disappointed. Clearly nobody was really aware of the historical potential of documents from daily operations. Since Carl Benz and Gottlieb Daimler changed individual mobility forever with their Patent Motor Car and motorised cab in 1886, many documents had simply been lost – a fact Max Rauck quickly realised while completing the preparatory research for setting up the archive. In September 1935 the engineer reported to the Board of Management that there was “only very little historical material [...] in our company”. Meanwhile, the company’s employees still failed to appreciate the importance of the archive: in response to a circular dated March 1935, the engineer received “only a handful of historical material”.

In the company there was a realisation early on that innovation arose particularly against the background of tradition. In 1899, Daimler not only showcased the latest models at the Paris Automobile Salon but also the motorised cab from 1886 – visitors of the day viewed the 13-year-old vehicle as a bizarre classic vehicle, with the new automobiles worlds apart from the comparatively simple technology in their forerunner.
A key milestone in this analysis of the product history through exhibits comes in the shape of the museum work, which began back in the days of DMG in Untertürkheim. But only with the inauguration in 1936 of the first Mercedes-Benz Museum open to the public does the museum become an integral part of the public perception of the brand and company.

A new culture of document management
The gaps in the material for the fledgling archive collection essentially related to documents. For instance, the Daimler-Motoren-Gesellschaft decided in November 1924 to destroy almost without exception the contents of its archives that covered the period from the company’s foundation through to January 1919. The decision may have been taken for entirely practical reasons: in May 1924, DMG founded a community of interests with Benz & Cie., which was an important step along the way to the merger in 1926. Against the backdrop of this new cooperation, DMG at the time no longer believed their old archive material from the period before the First World War important enough to transfer to a new, joint archive.

Nonetheless, two copy books belonging to Gottlieb Daimler and Max Duttenhofer were retained, along with vehicle records, order books and engine books. Rauck also turned up historical letters as well as newspapers and magazines. A copy book was an accounts book – required under law at the time in Germany – that was used to enter business correspondence. Other periodicals existed in the plant library – in total these printed sources went back to the year 1898. The collection of photographs (“some in albums, some collected loosely, unfortunately with no details of the type of the object or the year of construction”) and catalogues as well as operating instructions (“unfortunately not complete”) nonetheless also formed a sound base.

By contrast, the material found at Benz & Cie was extremely sparse: “I didn’t manage to find any historical material whatsoever on the company Benz”, Rauck reported back to the Board of Management, “even though apparently all the historical documentation is supposed to have been transferred to Untertürkheim when the companies merged in 1926.” Where the material ended up is uncertain. In any case no historical documents whatsoever were left at the Mannheim plant – despite the budding archivist asking on several occasions.
The search for documentation of the company’s own history therefore proved a challenge. One exception came in the shape of the patents filed by Daimler-Benz AG and its predecessor organisations: “The Patent Department has kept all the old patents”, Rauck reported in his letter to the Board of Management in 1935. The oldest patents filed by Daimler and Benz, virtually the birth certificates of the automobile, currently form part of the archive, while the Patent Department still looks after collecting all the other historical patent documents. And further successes were also reported in 1935: Rauck described the photo archive taken over from Berlin-Marienfelde as “very interesting and complete”, and he got back from Berlin a file believed to have been lost that included old newspaper reports about Benz & Cie.

In summer 2011, UNESCO underscored just how visionary preserving the patents from the early days of the company’s history actually was: Carl Benz’s patent document from 1886 for a “vehicle with gas-engine drive” together with a bundle of other documents on the invention of the automobile were added to the World Document Heritage on 15 July. This accolade is not just testimony to the unique importance of these documents, but also to Daimler’s ongoing archival work.

The go-ahead for the archive
The Daimler-Benz AG Board of Management decided shortly after receiving the report to turn the project of a corporate archive into reality. As such, Daimler-Benz AG was following the lead taken by large German corporations such as Krupp and Siemens. The historical archive of Friedrich Krupp AG was regarded in its day as the most important industrial archive in Germany, having been founded in 1905. The Siemens archive followed in 1907. These models would be the benchmark used in Stuttgart in the future: “Anyone wanting to look seriously at the history of the automobile and engines will need our historical archive”, was the conclusion of a report drawn up shortly after the archive was founded, which compared the archives maintained by Krupp and Siemens with the new Daimler-Benz archive.

The issuance of administrative order number 1145 dated 9 December 1936 is regarded as the official foundation date of the Daimler archive. Yet the planning and preliminary work started earlier, with Rauck’s research dating back to early 1935. And on 16 September 1935, Rauck was commissioned to start systematically documenting the existing material, at the instance of Board member Wilhelm Kissel.

A space “in which all historical material (photos, written works, printed papers, etc.) should be preserved” – the idea was to open up the archive in the winter of 1935/36. As early as 1935, senior management stressed that the history of the entire Group including all its locations should be documented centrally: “This measure is naturally not only limited to the Untertürkheim plant, but extends to the other Group plants.”

A start was made on setting up the archive by searching for existing historical material on the one hand and setting up an infrastructure to hand over important documentation from current daily business on the other. This second aspect also lay at the heart of administrative order no. 1145 dated 9 December 1936, which is regarded as the official foundation date of the corporate archive. The order, which was made public by means of notices and circulars to the departmental heads, read:

“We have commissioned Mr Max Rauck Dipl.-Ing. to collect and sort through our historical written and pictorial material in order to set up and manage a historical archive, and hereby order that all our company’s locations assist Mr Rauck in carrying out the said task and, in particular, point out at their own initiative any existing material in their working area and provide him with appropriate access. Mr Rauck is entitled to add any pictorial and written works, provided these no longer have any current practical value, to the archive he is about to set up.”

The importance of the archive for Daimler AG is also manifest in the current “Group policy on the corporate archive”. Similar to the administrative order from 1936, the policy sets out at Board of Management level for all companies and employees of the Daimler Group worldwide that the corporate archive as Daimler AG’s memory fulfils all tasks of archive management and has a guideline function for Group-wide uniform standards when taking over, evaluating, opening up and preserving archive material. The policy expressly emphasises that the tasks of the archive extend equally to digital and analogue documents and information, thus ensuring proper archiving for the present and future.

In 1937, the archive presented its organisational plan in which the importance of collaboration between individual locations was once again highlighted: it was “urgently required to make all plants within the Group aware of the extraordinary value of the historical central archive and to ask them to preserve all material of historical value and to transfer the material to the historical central archive when requested to do so”.

Organisationally the archive unit was assigned to the Exhibitions department, which was also responsible for representing the company at motor shows as well as for designing exhibition spaces at sales and service outlets, and dealers. The tasks of the associated unit, the “Historical Area”, were set out in an internal report dated 20 October 1937 and included “setting up and continuing the archive, collecting and supporting hist[orical] objects and documents belonging to the Group, preparing lit[erary] work in this connection, museum issues, managing the historical material”.

Assess and preserve
The archive’s organisational plan from the same year proved visionary: the aim was to collect a wide range of documents, with a minimum time lag between origination of the documents and collection. In this way, the collected material on a certain vehicle model, for instance, was kept constantly up-to-date by continually adding new documents instead of waiting for all the relevant documents to be compiled after the end of the production period.

Here, the archive had already laid the foundations for the subsequently established practice of managing the collections on the basis of relevance and affinity: according to the key topic addressed in the individual files. The documents that were constantly being added to the archive were therefore assigned to the material according to topic. The corporate archive deviates from this principle primarily in the case of complete archived material, such as material sourced from individuals. One prime example is the Béla Barényi collection: the pioneer of modern vehicle safety donated his private archive to the corporate archive in 1990. This archive alone contains some 200 folders on the history of passive and active safety in the passenger car.

There was, however, still a long way to go from those first few years after its foundation before the well-oiled machine of the modern-day archive was in place. In 1937 a great deal of work was done on honing the structure used to organise the archive. Wilhelm Kissel, who was appointed the Chairman of the Daimler-Benz AG Board of Management in October 1937, himself set out his requirements for the archive structure. Talking to Max Rauck, Kissel emphasised the need for “a structure based on years”, within which the documentation on each individual year should be structured according to various topics: annual reports, leading personalities, photographs, written material, brochures, sport and exhibitions. By December 1937, more than 600 collected volumes and printed matter had been added to the archive under this model.
From the outset, the staff in the corporate archive rose to the classic challenge of their profession: they had to identify with vision what was ready for and worthy of inclusion in the archive. The benchmark is not solely how important documents are at present – the archivists also constantly have to try to judge what the documentation might mean from the perspective of future generations.

Collecting material without any selection process was not an option – if only due to space constraints. In the winter of 1937 the Archive reported to Wilhelm Kissel, who had now been appointed Chairman of the Board of Management, that “the space available [...][had been] entirely filled and it [would be] [...] highly desirable and necessary for additional rooms to be made available for the historical central archive in order to process and house the material that continues to be generated”.

As such, the contents and size of the archive grew, housed at the time in the so-called canteen building on the plant site in Untertürkheim. The storage facilities were also changed: in addition to the wooden cupboards used in the first few years, in 1939 an order was placed with August Blödner, Spezialfabrik für Stahlmöbel und Eisenbau (a company specialising in steel furniture and ironwork) based in Gotha for “double-walled, two-door fireproof cupboards”. As early as August 1935, Kissel had suggested this type of storage for irreplaceable documentary material. However, there was still not enough space to evaluate and archive all the collated material at a central location. Hence, the Archive proposed erecting a new building, with modern equipment throughout, including air conditioning, carbon dioxide extinguishing system and metallic archiving system.

Moved to the hen house
Yet a totally different fate would befall the archived materials in the Second World War. Instead of being relocated to a new building, they were moved from the Untertürkheim plant. On 8 April 1941 a note stated that, among other things, the most important documents from the founding years had been stored in a bank safe.

During the war a large part of the archive was moved to Kühbach (Aichach-Friedberg district) in Bavaria. Under the code name “hen house”, Daimler-Benz AG stored “various records, books, copies of drawings” as well as a variety of equipment in the cellar of the brewery on the Baron von Beck estate. Following the end of the war, the US Third Army, in whose area of responsibility the archive was being stored, was hesitant to allow the material to be taken away. The company initially rented external archive premises in Esslingen while the Untertürkheim plant was being reconstructed and civilian series production was being slowly ramped up. It was only in 1948 that the archive returned to the Untertürkheim site.

The period of the German economic miracle is not only an era of change and productivity for automobile production but also for the archive: in 1954 it became an independent department, reporting directly to the Board of Management department “Central Management”. This period also gave rise to numerous important publications on the history of Daimler-Benz AG’s products and the company itself, as well as on the history of the automobile and technology in general.

Archive and museum under a single roof
1957 saw the archive and museum being combined, bringing together the product and document collections, and generating numerous synergies in the process. This structure has been retained to the present day. The merger was reflected particularly in the inauguration of the Mercedes-Benz Museum on the plant site, with the new building being completed in 1960 and inaugurated in 1961: the archive was housed in the same building. When the new Mercedes-Benz Museum was opened off the plant site at Mercedes-Benz World in 2006, the archive moved into the building directly opposite the plant gates located on the Cannstatt side.
The archive’s organisational structure also changed over the years. The current system was set up in 1973: at the time, the decision was taken to “extend the document base to the non-technical area”, to split up the hitherto “mainly technically oriented” historical archive into the technical archive and corporate archive. The archives still retain the same structure even today: apart from the corporate archive and the product archive, there is the media archive, archive library and the vehicle collection.

Economic and social history
The corporate archive preserves documents and artefacts relating to individuals and the company’s history. These include sources on the company founders, the complete company history and the development of the plants, as well as the Board members with reports on Board of Management and Supervisory Board meetings. Documents detailing sales of in-house products and on investments form part of the corporate archive along with press kits and a art collection including rare posters, original graphics and designs for advertising motifs as well as the advertising collection including advertisements dating back to 1885. The racing archive documents the motorsport involvement of Daimler and the predecessor companies from the first race in 1894, through the Silver Arrows era in the 1930s and 1950s to the present-day competitors. And the archived material also includes documents on the social history as well as artefacts ranging from coins, medals and trophies through to promotional items.

Technical expertise in its historical context
The product archive documents the history of passenger cars and commercial vehicles since the invention of the automobile by Carl Benz and Gottlieb Daimler. The archived materials include brochures, price lists, owner’s manuals, workshop and parts literature along with technical reports and design drawings. The original vehicle records, order books and engine books, which document the as-delivered condition of virtually all passenger cars ever built by the Daimler, Mercedes and Mercedes-Benz brands provide a treasure trove of information. Added to which are vehicle data cards for over 10 million passenger cars from the period 1945 to 1985.

These documents also constitute important sources for Mercedes-Benz Classic that allow the manufacturer to produce expert reports: based on this historical information and a technical diagnosis, the experts from Mercedes-Benz Classic can verify and document the originality of valuable Mercedes-Benz vehicles.

Open to new media
The media archive includes some three million photographs from the early years of automotive construction to the present day. This includes almost 300,000 historical black-and-white negatives, almost a third of which are large-format glass negatives. The media archive also features some 4000 films along with the audio collection comprising original interviews with contemporary witnesses and other contributions to oral history.
The media are accessible in an extensive database, which facilitates rapid search and distribution. The corporate archive also embraced the digital future early on: the data in the archives has been processed electronically since the early 1990s. In 2000, the M@RS database (Multimedia, Archive and Research System) also went live on the internet. M@RS is not an island solution limited to the archives but was always designed from the outset as a cross-departmental solution that could be deployed throughout the Group to provide all types of media and documents.

Meanwhile M@RS is being used in the Group by more than 20 other clients, with data constantly being added; for the archives this integrated solution has the major advantage of providing up-to-date data such as product and marketing information early on to ensure long-term availability.

This willingness to embrace new media is nothing new: back in April 1938, Max Rauck noted: “We have to set up a sound archive. [... W[e] already have various wax discs, f[or] e[xample] “Dr Nibel talks about the racing car” etc. You could also find stories from old Daimler and Benz veterans on wax discs.” In the same year, Rauck also suggested they should also archive historical film material. As such, the archive was consistently geared to a variety of media from the moment it was founded.

Literature on vehicle technology and the automotive industry
The archive library is a large reference library that specialises in automotive technology and the automotive industry. In addition to the numerous works on the Mercedes-Benz brand as well as on Daimler AG and its predecessor companies, there are also extensive archives on general automotive and technology history. The almost complete edition of the “Allgemeine Automobil-Zeitung”, a car magazine first published in 1900, is a remarkable rarity on the international library scene. The library also holds other publications from the early days of the automobile. In total, the library contains some 10,000 books, and 220 magazines, of which 90 are current titles. The library’s collections also include numerous books published by the Archive itself. This publication work on brand-specific topics as well as on basic issues relating to automobile history boasts a long tradition in the archive.

History on wheels
The Mercedes-Benz Classic vehicle collection forms the basis for all automotive activities linked to the unique tradition of Mercedes-Benz.

A company-owned vehicle collection has been documented in the archives since 1921. The collection consists of more than 900 vehicles, some 160 of which are on display as exhibits in the Mercedes-Benz Museum. Other vehicles are on show at exhibitions and motor shows, or used at new vehicle presentations, at classic car events and rallies. A binding collection concept governs the way in which the vehicle collection is expanded and managed. In this way, the brand’s groundbreaking products are collected according to set criteria and preserved for posterity – according to precisely the same discerning requirements that the historical archive has fulfilled since 1936.

Source: Daimler AG

The details are specified in an agreement signed by Daimler and AKKA Technologies on December 7, 2011. Subject to the approval of the antitrust authorities, AKKA Technologies will acquire a stake of 65 percent; until now, MBtech has been a 100 percent Daimler subsidiary. With a substantial equity interest of 35 percent in the future, Daimler will remain a long-term and strategic shareholder as well as an important client of MBtech.

The entry of AKKA Technologies at MBtech Group will create one of the biggest European engineering consultancies. AKKA Technologies is a listed company and is an engineering consultancy for the automotive, aeronautics, space, transport and energy sectors. In the area of aeronautics engineering, the company is already the market leader in Europe. In the future, that position will be held by AKKA Technologies and MBtech also in the automotive sector, where the Sindelfingen company has its focus.

The two companies complement each other ideally in their sectoral structure, client portfolio and regional positioning: AKKA Technologies has its main focus on France, Italy, Spain and the United Kingdom, while MBtech has a strong market position in Germany, China and the United States.

Together with the new majority shareholder, MBtech will broaden its competence profile outside the automotive industry and expand its international market position in the coming years. Daimler and AKKA Technologies intend to jointly develop the company and to strengthen its competitiveness on a sustained basis. This will protect jobs at MBtech while offering new opportunities for the workforce in an expanded international environment.

“With AKKA Technologies, we have found a strong and well-established partner whose product offering is an ideal supplement to MBtech’s activities. Through the new partnership, MBtech will utilize market opportunities for engineering services even better than before, allowing it to participate even more in the future worldwide growth in this sector,” stated Professor Dr. Thomas Weber, Member of Daimler’s Board of Management for Group Research and Mercedes-Benz Cars Development. “At the same time, the enhanced competence profile of MBtech will provide important support for Daimler’s product and technology offensives,” he continued.
“AKKA Technologies was born out of a vision I once had, which I continue to pursue: ‘How we can turn the passion that our talented team has for technology into innovative solutions for our industrial customers.’ This partnership will turn that vision into a reality: with MBtech and Daimler we are embracing a whole new world of new business and career opportunities. Together, we will develop new products and services and strengthen our power to innovate,” promises Maurice Ricci, Chairman and CEO of AKKA Technologies.
AKKA Technologies employs a workforce of 7,000 people at more than 50 locations and expects to post revenue of 545 million euros in 2011.

The MBtech Group was established by Daimler AG in 1995. The company develops, integrates and tests automotive components, systems and modules, and employs 2,900 people at locations in Europe, North America and Asia. In the year 2010, it posted revenue of 300 million euros.

Source: Daimler AG

Also the fourth quarter result is expected to be significantly higher than in the same period of last year. For that reason, Daimler Financial Services expects EBIT to reach a record value by the end of 2011.
New business and contract volume are also expected to reach a new record level: During the first ten months of the year, Daimler Financial Services boosted its new business to €26.7 billion, which represents an increase of 12 percent compared to the same period of 2010. During the same period, contract volume rose by 8 percent to €65.8 billion.

Daimler Financial Services is also continuing to grow in the insurance sector in 2011. The company had brokered 753,000 motor vehicle insurance policies by the end of October, which represents an increase of 20 percent on the previous year.

Huge growth potential in India and China
Daimler’s financial services division is growing rapidly in the BRIC countries. “Brazil, Russia, India, and China already account for around 10 percent of our new business worldwide, and this figure is expected to rise to 25 percent over the next five years,” said Klaus Entenmann, Chairman of the Board of Management of Daimler Financial Services, at a press briefing in Stuttgart. “The model offensive in the car and commercial vehicle sectors will trigger a burst of growth in all regions. In Asia alone, we will greatly expand our presence in the years ahead, doubling our business volume there between now and 2016.”

Although the subsidiary Daimler Financial Services India only began offering financial services for Mercedes-Benz cars in summer 2011, the company has already achieved a contract volume of around €40 million. Beginning in 2012, the company will grow further by introducing services for the new truck brand BharatBenz.

In China, Daimler Financial Services has a financing contract volume of €1.4 billion on its books, 42 percent more than at the beginning of the year. Further growth is expected: Daimler Financial Services wants to offer financial services for the commercial vehicle joint venture between Daimler and the Chinese truck manufacturer Foton, thus further strengthening its position as the world’s largest financer of commercial vehicles.

Daimler Financial Services is posting growth rates of 20 percent or more in Taiwan, Korea, Argentina, and Turkey.

Business model will be expanded by mobility services
Klaus Entenmann sees further growth opportunities in the business with new mobility concepts. “We will expand our business model by offering mobility services in addition to just vehicle financing in the future,” he said. As part of this process, Daimler Financial Services incorporated the car2go business. “Thanks to our expertise with banking, fleet management, mobility packages combining financing and insurance, and the corresponding online billing processes, we will develop mobility services within the Group that will meet customers’ needs for new transportation concepts for urban areas,” said Entenmann. One example of this is Stuttgart’s National Electric Mobility Platform project, in which Daimler Financial Services is also involved.
Daimler Financial Services believes it is also in a good position with regard to electric mobility, which has a bright future. Beginning in spring 2012, the company will offer a new product called “sale & care” for the new generation of the smart fortwo electric drive. The product will enable customers to buy, finance, or lease the vehicles at an attractive price. This will be especially the case when a new car buyer rents the battery separately for approximately €60 per month net.

With this offer, Daimler Financial Services will make electric mobility affordable for everyone and relieve the customers of the possible risks.

Source: Daimler AG

In all, more than 1.5 billion euros are to be invested in the extension and conversion of various parts of the plant and in the launch of new products and production technologies.

“With full order books behind us, we are investing in our powertrain production to ensure it is fit to face future competition,” explains Dr Wolfgang Bernhard, Member of the Daimler AG Board of Management, responsible for Manufacturing and Procurement, Mercedes-Benz Cars and Mercedes-Benz Vans. “These investments represent an important contribution to the implementation of our Mercedes-Benz 2020 growth strategy.”

“Untertürkheim is the birthplace of the automobile,” notes Peter Schabert, head of Mercedes-Benz Cars Powertrain production and head of the Untertürkheim plant. “These investments will ensure that we continue to play a role in shaping the ongoing evolution of mobility from our base here.”

The investments will be allocated to extension and conversion measures and to new manufacturing technologies in the area of axle, transmission and engine production – for the new generation of compact cars, for example. 270 million euros are earmarked at the Hedelfingen subplant for the ramp-up of the new dual clutch transmission, which is being deployed in the new Mercedes-Benz B-Class. The area of upstream operations, the foundry and forging works at the Mettingen subplant, has also been brought up to scratch for the future: the production of turbocharger housings by means of a specially developed casting process was started up this year at the former grey iron foundry on the back of investments in the order of 65 million euros. Next year will also see the commissioning of a die-casting laboratory in which 30 million euros have been invested. This lab will serve to simulate and optimize casting processes and to develop tool concepts.

About the Untertürkheim plant
Stuttgart’s largest industrial facility is based in the Untertürkheim city district. The core of the automobile – engines, transmissions, axles and other powertrain components – is produced at the seven sub plants, including Esslingen-Mettingen, Hedelfingen and Bad Cannstatt, with a total production and administrative workforce of around 17,000. Powertrain and parts kits are delivered from Untertürkheim to Mercedes-Benz production plants in Germany and around the world.

On average, the powertrain production network produces axles, transmissions and engines for more than one and a half million vehicles annually, corresponding to a daily output of around 6000 drive systems. The full order books have led to the creation of 600 new jobs in Untertürkheim this year.

Source: Daimler AG

In April 2012, BDNT will be present at the motor show with an own appearance, showcasing BDNT’s green vision, the new brand’s identity, including brand name, logo and positioning as well as the Concept Car’s exterior and interior design. The Concept Car is going to give a first outlook on BDNT’s fully electric vehicle that is scheduled to be launched in 2013.

In the meantime, the Shenzhen-based joint venture is making good progress on the production model of the car. Recently, work on building up the electric vehicle’s first prototypes has started with the target to have them running by springtime next year. The joint venture will use BYD’s excellence in battery technology and e-drive systems and Daimler’s know-how in electric vehicle architecture and safety.

Furthermore Daimler’s quality philosophy has been incorporated from a very early stage – not only to safeguard the vehicle’s quality but also to contribute the company’s long-standing expertise with quality management along the supply chain and production processes.

Production of the new generation of compact to mid-size electric vehicles in Shenzhen is going to be closely accompanied by Daimler’s quality management experts and will to a large extent follow Daimler’s standardised production system for passenger cars.

The supplier sourcing for the new vehicle is nearly completed. Both partners have decided to sign a number of China-based international as well as local suppliers.

On BDNT
In 2010, Daimler and BYD signed the contract for a 50:50 research and technology joint venture called “Shenzhen BYD Daimler New Technology Co. Ltd,” (BDNT) that will develop an electric vehicle in and for China. End of February 2011 BDNT has received its business license from Chinese authorities – just a few months after signing the JV contract. The vehicle will be marketed under a new brand jointly created and owned by the joint venture company BDNT.

Electric vehicles are especially well-suited for urban driving. With its many metropolitan areas, China has the potential to be among the world’s largest markets for zero-emission vehicles. Daimler and BYD are determined not only to participate in this growth of electric mobility in China but to accelerate it even further.

Source: Daimler AG

The archive, one of the largest business archives anywhere in Europe and undoubtedly the most complete in the automotive industry, provides a documentary record of the outstanding history of the company, its products and ideas dating back to the invention of the automobile in 1886. Its contents are testimony to the ability to develop visionary designs, and document a varied economic and social history.

“The archives underpin our unique corporate history with information on all the products that we have built over the past 125 years since Carl Benz and Gottlieb Daimler invented the automobile”, says Michael Bock, Head of Mercedes-Benz Classic and Managing Director of Mercedes-Benz Museum GmbH. “We utilise this virtually inexhaustible source mainly for Mercedes-Benz brand communications.”

Officially the archives’ history began 75 years ago with administrative order no. 1145 from the then Daimler-Benz Aktiengesellschaft. On 9 December 1936, the company’s Board of Management stated in the order that the engineer Max Rauck had been commissioned “to collect and sort through our historical written and pictorial material in order to set up and manage a historical archive”. However, Rauck had already been exploring in-house the wealth of material worth archiving for nearly two years on behalf of the Board of Management.

The archives have constantly grown since administrative order no. 1145 was published, with their structure and focus being continually honed. Throughout this process, Daimler has taken note of the overall media, political and economic background, but above all focused on the company’s development itself.

Key milestones in the archives’ history include the structural merger with the museum collection in 1957, the relocation to the then newly built Mercedes-Benz Museum in 1960, and the historical archive being split in 1973 into the technical archive and corporate archive. Today the Group’s memory comprises the corporate archive, product archive, media archive and archive library as well as the vehicle collection.

Today the archive faces the increasingly important task of collating and preserving sources from various media types. This challenge is also being used productively by rolling out tools that provide users with multimedia access to the archived content. This applies particularly to the multimedia, archive and research system M@RS.

Source: Daimler AG

The Letter of Intent was signed by Xu Heyi, Chairman of BAIC, Han Yonggui, President of BAIC, Prof. Dr. Thomas Weber, Head of Group Research & Mercedes-Benz Cars Development, and Ulrich Walker, Chairman and CEO of Daimler Northeast Asia in the presence of Jia Qinglin, Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, during his visit to Daimler’s largest manufacturing plant in Sindelfingen. Ji Lin, Executive Vice Mayor of Beijing, Dr. Nils Schmid, Deputy State Premier and Minister of Finance and Economics of the state of Baden-Württemberg, and Dr. Dieter Zetsche, Chairman of the Board of Management of Daimler AG and Head of Mercedes-Benz Cars, were also present at the signing ceremony.
The Letter of Intent signed between the two companies states that both sides are going to evaluate additional initiatives at corporate level as well as to support each other with further investments. BAIC and Daimler will jointly analyze the possibilities of technological cooperation as well as cooperation in the field of research and development of new energy vehicles with the aim of further improving the competitiveness of both partners in China.

Partnership between BAIC and Daimler
As one of China’s largest automakers, BAIC Group sold 1.5 million vehicles last year. Daimler AG is one of the world’s most successful automotive companies. Both parties have already established a long term strategic partnership including significant investments in the Chinese automotive industry over the past years.
The new Letter of Intent is another step in both parties’ successful cooperation and builds on a strategic framework agreement that was signed earlier this year: In June this year in the presence of Chinese premier Wen Jiabao and German Chancellor Angela Merkel, both partners agreed to invest two billion euros in the Joint Venture Beijing Benz Automotive Co, Ltd. (BBAC). BBAC is currently producing Mercedes-Benz C-Class and E-Class sedans and will be expanded to include the GLK compact SUV as of 2011 as well as three models of the new generation of Mercedes-Benz premium compact cars.

As of 2013, a new engine plant will produce 4-cylinder gasoline engines, which will be used in locally produced Mercedes-Benz passenger cars and vans.

A new R&D center at BBAC will be established, which will mainly focus on vehicle testing and adaptation as well as R&D activities with suppliers.

Source: Daimler AG

The development of earnings in the third quarter of 2011 primarily reflects the higher vehicle shipments by all divisions. As already announced in the second quarter, EBIT at Mercedes-Benz Cars was impacted by changes in the product mix and by charges due to the upcoming model changes. All other divisions posted higher earnings than in the prior-year period.

“Daimler operated very successfully also in the third quarter. All divisions developed as we expected,” commented Dr. Dieter Zetsche, Chairman of the Board of Management of Daimler AG and Head of Mercedes-Benz Cars. “Our company is extremely well positioned in this jubilee year and has a very sound balance sheet. All the divisions are pursuing their goals very consistently and are right on track. At the same time, we are more flexible than ever before, so that we can react quickly to future developments,” Zetsche pointed out. He affirmed the forecast for full-year 2011: “We continue to expect Group EBIT from the ongoing business to very significantly exceed the level of 2010.”

Net profit for the third quarter of 2011 includes charges from the impairment of Daimler’s investments in Renault and Kamaz of €110 million and €23 million respectively. The investments had to be impaired to their fair values due to the sharp fall in both companies’ share prices.

Total unit sales up by 11% in third quarter
In the third quarter of 2011, Daimler sold 525,500 cars and commercial vehicles worldwide, surpassing the figure for the prior-year period by 11%.

Group revenue increased significantly by 5% to €26.4 billion (Q3 2010: €25.1 billion). Adjusted for exchange-rate effects, the increase was 8%.

The net liquidity of the industrial business amounted to €10.4 billion at September 30, 2011 (December 31, 2010: €11.9 billion). Excluding the increase in our investment in Tognum and the contributions to our pension funds, the free cash flow of the industrial business was also significantly positive at €1.5 billion.
At the end of the third quarter, Daimler employed 269,887 people worldwide (September 30, 2010: 259,943). Of that total, 167,948 were employed in Germany (September 30, 2010: 164,589).

Details of the divisions
Mercedes-Benz Carscontinued its positive business development and achieved a new record for unit sales in a third quarter of 337,200 vehicles (Q3 2010: 317,500). The Mercedes-Benz brand also set a new third-quarter record with sales of 315,400 units (Q3 2010: 294,400). The division’s revenue increased to €13.8 billion (Q3 2010: €13.7 billion).

The division achieved EBIT of €1,108 million, despite a large number of factors with a negative impact on earnings (Q3 2010: €1,299 million). The division’s return on sales was 8% (Q3 2010: 9.5%). Record unit sales in the third quarter were offset in particular by changes in the product mix, as well as by the impact of higher material costs, exchange-rate movements, upcoming model changes and increased research and development expenses. The high quality of the products led to lower warranty expenses.

Daimler Trucks also continued its successful business development and increased its unit sales by 22% compared with the third quarter of last year to sell 115,600 vehicles. The division’s revenue grew to €7.6 billion (Q3 2010: €6.4 billion).

Daimler Trucks’ EBIT amounted to €555 million and its return on sales was 7.3% (Q3 2010: €496 million and 7.7%).

The positive development of earnings is primarily due to substantial growth in unit sales compared with the prior-year period. Sales growth was particularly strong in the NAFTA region, Europe and Latin America. There were opposing, negative effects on third-quarter earnings from increased material costs, high advance expenditure for the current product offensive and the impairment of the equity interest in Kamaz.
Mercedes-Benz Vansincreased its unit sales by 18% to 63,500 vehicles (Q3 2010: 53.700). Revenue of €2.2 billion was also significantly higher than in the third quarter of last year (€1.9 billion).

The division achieved third-quarter EBIT of €200 million (Q3 2010: €122 million). Its return on sales improved to 9%, compared with 6.4% in the prior-year period.

The main drivers of the positive earnings trend were the ongoing market recovery and significantly higher unit sales, especially in Germany and the United States. The excellent market reaction to the new generations of the Vito and Viano also made a significant contribution. Earnings were additionally boosted by better pricing. On the other hand, the division’s EBIT was negatively affected by higher material costs.

Daimler Buses increased its unit sales to 9,200 complete buses and chassis (Q3 2010: 9,100), mainly because of the positive development of chassis sales. Revenue of €1,041 million was also higher than in the prior-year period (Q3 2010: €1,007 million).

The division achieved EBIT of €25 million (Q3 2010: €11 million). Its return on sales therefore increased from 1.1% to 2.4%. As well as the overall increase in unit sales, this positive earnings development was caused by positive exchange-rate effects.

Daimler Financial Services’ contract volume in the sales-financing and leasing business amounted to €65.8 billion at the end of the third quarter, which is 3% higher than at the end of 2010. Adjusted for exchange-rate effects, contract volume increased by 6%. New business of €8.6 billion was 18% higher than in the third quarter of last year.

With EBIT of €337 million in the third quarter of 2011, the division surpassed its earnings of €317 million in the prior-year period. The improvement in earnings was mainly caused by lower provisions for risks and an increased contract volume. There were opposing, negative effects on earnings from higher expenses in connection with the repositioning of business activities in Germany.

The divisions’ EBIT is reconciled to Group EBIT. This reconciliation primarily reflects the proportionate share of the results of the equity-method investment in EADS as well as other gains and losses at the corporate level.
Items accounted for at the corporate level resulted in a total expense of €250 million (Q3 2010: income of €191 million), mainly reflecting the impairment of the investment in Renault by an amount of €110 million.
In the third quarter Daimler and Rolls-Royce Holdings plc have received all the relevant regulatory approvals for the takeover of Tognum AG. The public tender offer made by Engine Holding GmbH, in which Daimler and Rolls-Royce each hold 50%, was closed in September 2011. At the end of the third quarter, Engine Holding held approximately 98% of the shares in Tognum AG. This business is allocated to the Daimler Trucks division.

Outlook
On the basis of current estimates, the Daimler Group continues to assume that it will post EBIT from the ongoing business in 2011 that will be very significantly higher than the level of 2010. The course of business so far this year shows that the Group continues to make good progress towards achieving its targeted rates of return on a sustained basis as of the year 2013. Those targets for return on sales are 10% for Mercedes-Benz Cars, 8% for Daimler Trucks, 9% for Mercedes-Benz Vans and 6% for Daimler Buses; the target for return on equity for Daimler Financial Services is 17%. The targets are based on the assumption of a stable global economic and political environment and intact automotive markets.

Based on the divisions’ planning, further growth in total revenue to significantly more than €100 billion is expected for full-year 2011. That growth will probably be driven by all of the automotive divisions.
Total unit sales will also increase significantly (2010: 1.9 million vehicles). Unit sales in 2011 are expected to be higher than in the prior year for all divisions.

In view of the continuation of generally good market prospects combined with numerous model changes and new products, Mercedes-Benz Cars assumes that the Mercedes-Benz brand will further increase its unit sales to a new record in 2011. Thanks to an up-to-date and competitive model range, the division will profit also in the year 2011 from strong demand for its numerous new models in the C-Class segment and from the continuing market success of its SUVs. In September, shipments of the new M-Class started in the United States. The roadster version of the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG will follow in the fourth quarter. And in November, the new B-Class will be launched – the first of five new models in the compact-car segment.
On the engines side, Mercedes-Benz Cars is introducing its particularly fuel-efficient four, six and eight-cylinder engines and the eco-start-stop technology in additional models. With the new generation of the C-Class, for example, the C 220 CDI is available with fuel consumption of just 4.4 liters per 100 kilometers and CO 2 emissions of 117 grams per kilometer.

For the smart brand, unit sales are anticipated at roughly the same level as in 2010 due to the full availability of the new generation of the smart fortwo.

Daimler Trucks expects to post significant growth in unit sales in full-year 2011. The need to catch up in both the European market and the NAFTA region is the main reason for the strong revival of demand compared with last year. Reconstruction activities in Japan following the natural disaster this March are boosting the demand for transport in that country. This is supporting the trend of sales returning to their levels of before the disaster.

The so-called RIC markets (Russia, India and China) are growing dynamically and Daimler Trucks is expanding its production capacities accordingly: In India, BharatBenz will open its truck plant in April 2012; in Russia, Daimler Trucks is broadening its cooperation with Kamaz; and in China, Beijing Foton Daimler Automotive Co., Ltd. (BFDA) has obtained final approval from the authorities for the joint venture between Daimler and Foton.
The order situation confirms the expectations for this year: Orders received for 107,200 units in the third quarter remained at a high level, and the order backlog is significantly larger than a year ago. The division anticipates unit sales in the fourth quarter at a higher level than in the prior-year period.

Due to the ongoing market recovery, Mercedes-Benz Vans also expects to achieve growth in unit sales in its key markets in full-year 2011. In Western Europe, the division will defend its leading market position for medium-sized and large vans and will participate in the market’s growth. It expects to see significant increases in unit sales particularly in the United States and Eastern Europe. Furthermore, increased production capacities in Argentina will additionally boost the growth in Latin America.

Daimler Buses assumes it will sell more than 40,000 complete buses and bus chassis in the year 2011. There will be a structural shift from complete buses towards bus chassis.

Daimler Financial Services anticipates growth in its worldwide new business in full-year 2011. After adjusting for exchange-rate effects, contract volume should increase again in the fourth quarter. The division expects a decrease in worldwide credit-risk costs in the full year.

Due to the strong demand for its products, Daimler assumes that its worldwide workforce will expand this year compared with the end of 2010.

Source: Daimler AG

The three-pointed star brand again took twelfth place – as it did last year – and is therefore the most valuable European brand. Its brand equity has risen to US$ 27.455 billion, an increase of 9 percent compared to 2010. Mercedes-Benz’s brand equity has therefore risen continuously since 2009.

The study’s authors attribute this success to customer satisfaction with the brand, which is higher than that of all other automotive brands. What’s more, the model initiative launched two years ago is enabling Mercedes-Benz to successfully respond to the market’s demand for ground-breaking, sustainable transport solutions.

Interbrand conducts the ‘Best Global Brands’ study every year. Leading CEOs regard it as the benchmark for measuring the value of international brands. The study identifies the 100 most valuable brands in the world.

Source: Daimler AG

“With our 50 percent stake in Beijing Foton Daimler Automotive, we are further strengthening our position as an important player in the China market. Having now received the final green light for the joint venture, this also sends out a clear signal that we deliver on what we promise.”

The final approval for the joint venture between Daimler Trucks and Foton Motor marks another important step in the implementation of Daimler Trucks’ Global Excellence strategy and will allow it to thoroughly participate in the growth of the Chinese truck market. In 2010, the Chinese market for trucks over six tons GVW had a volume of 1.2 million units. Forecasts indicate that about 1.5 million trucks over six tons GVW will be sold annually in China from now until 2020.

“This marks a milestone for the joint venture between Daimler and the Chinese truck manufacturer, Foton Motor, and for the implementation of Daimler Trucks’ worldwide strategy,” says Andreas Renschler, a member of Daimler’s Board of Management and Head of Daimler Trucks and Buses. “The flexibility, persistence, patience, and intercultural understanding of both parties were decisive factors in forging this partnership and obtaining the final go-ahead.”

“Receiving the final approval from the Chinese Ministry of Commerce is an important step in our China strategy, which is based on a thorough understanding of and long-term commitment to this country. Thanks to the great progress made during the past few months, the way is now clear for both partners to establish the joint venture,” says Ulrich Walker, Chairman and CEO of Daimler Northeast Asia.

“Through this joint venture, Daimler will gain a 50 percent stake in Foton Motor’s medium- and heavy-duty truck business. This further strengthens our position to address all segments of the market in China: passenger cars, trucks, vans and financial services.”

Daimler will contribute its technological expertise to the joint venture — especially in the area of diesel engines and exhaust gas systems — so that Chinese emissions limits, ranging up to the Euro V standard, can be fulfilled. Localized production of Mercedes-Benz’s redeveloped OM 457 engines will be an integral part of future operations at the joint venture.

“We are very pleased to see that the joint venture between Daimler Trucks and Beiqi Foton has obtained approval, since Daimler is a longstanding associate of ours here in China. This marks another milestone in the strategic cooperation between Daimler and BAIC”, says Xu Heyi, Chairman of BAIC.

“Both partners will use Foton’s truck brand Auman as a platform to grow business in China and look at cooperation opportunities outside of China. In addition to making use of our sales and service network for the medium- and heavy-duty truck sector, Foton Motor will also contribute its market know-how in China and the rest of Asia to the joint venture,” explains Wang Jingyu, CEO and President of Foton Motor.

Foton has experienced rapid growth since entering the truck business in 1998. Last year it sold nearly 105,000 units of medium- and heavy-duty trucks (and nearly 66,500 units during the first half of 2011) and is therefore already a key player in China’s truck segment.

A second truck plant is already being ramped up, giving the Beijing Foton Daimler Automotive joint venture a total production capacity of 160,000 trucks.

Source: Daimler AG

“The investigation was initiated on the basis of allegations by the parents of a test driver who suffered a deadly accident on the test course in Papenburg on September 21,09.2010. On that day, an intern who was driving a test vehicle on the course at a high speed collided with a slow-driving passenger car, killing a 27-year old test engineer.

The district court of Papenburg sentenced the man who caused the accident to a monetary fine on probation for negligent manslaughter on July 12, 2011.

The parents of the deceased supposed that the accident was a violation of the supervisory duties of managing staff of Daimler AG.

The District Attorney’s Office of Osnabrück discontinued the proceedings because a breach of supervisory duty can not be found. Against the parents’ claim, the driver who caused the accident was extensively instructed and trained prior to the start of the test drive. In the opinion of the test supervisor, the driver had good command of the local conditions and was well able to cope with the test drive. The accident was attributable to a momentary failure since the driver apparently allowed his attention to be diverted by the operation of the cruise control at high speed.“

Source: Daimler AG

Buenos Aires, September 6th, 2011. It was the 60th anniversary of the arrival of Mercedes-Benz in Argentina, proud to have been the first Mercedes-Benz plant outside Germany, renewing its industrial commitment with the country and following the development of national transport. Having been the first productive subsidiary, meant the initial step in the industrial expansion of the brand in the world.

Because of such an important occasion, there was an event in the Centro Industrial Juan Manuel Fangio in Virrey del Pino which brought together businessmen, clients, suppliers, journalists, employees and officers.

The event was attended by the President of Argentina, Mrs. Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner, The Governor of Buenos Aires Province, Mr. Daniel Scioli, the Minister of Industry, Mrs. Debora Giorgi, the Mayor of La Matanza, Mr. Fernando Espinosa and other national, provincial and municipal authorities.

Apart from that, members of Daimler AG (Headquarters of Mercedes Benz) also attended, such as Volker Mornhinweg, head of vans at world level, Juergen Ziegler, responsible of Mercedes-Benz for the region; and Roland Zey, President of Mercedes-Benz Argentina.

Launchings and new investments
Within the framework of this celebration, Mercedes-Benz Argentina presented the new Sprinter utility car and the OM651 engine, both products will begin their manufacture by the end of 2011 in the Industrial Centre.

The company is carrying out an investment plan for more than 100 million dollars in order to adapt its industrial plant to de launching of the successor to the current Sprinter and to manufacture the latest diesel engine of the brand, the OM651, which will only be produced in Argentina and Germany.

The investment plan also includes an ambitious plan to develop local suppliers for the new products and for the new line of vehicles manufactured in Argentina.

This year, Mercedes-Benz started the production of the light-heavyweight 1720 truck. Besides, it continues with the local production of chassis for buses -with the current OH1618, OH 1718 and OF 1418- as it has been doing since 1952, the traditional buses which have been travelling along Argentinian roads for decades.
As from this year, with the incorporation of the production of the truck and the present manufacture of the Sprinter and the chassis for urban buses, Mercedes-Benz Argentina has become the only local automotive company producing all the range of commercial vehicles: utility, trucks and buses.

At present, Mercedes-Benz Argentina is a highly specialized Regionally Competitive Centre in the production of utility, load transport and passenger vehicles for export and local sale.

New Sprinter
Since 1996, the company has beenproducing, marketing and selling the Sprinter from its Centro Industrial Juan Manuel Fangio, the only vehicle of this type manufactured locally and it is the locally produced vehicle with the most export destinations (almost 50 countries).

The new Sprinter model, successor of the current one, will begin its production at the beginning of 2012 and the local and regional commercialization is estimated for the first trimester of 2012. At this moment we are concentrated on preparing and conditioning the production line for that purpose.

The objective of the company is to turn the plant in Argentina into a Regional Competition Centre for Commercial Vehicles, allowing a long term sustainable development of production volume as well as qualified local employment.

The new Sprinter is a bigger vehicle and has a greater load capacity. It has a renewed design and a new platform with new and more powerful engines. Besides, it has a high series equipment standard regarding comfort and safety.

A great part of the components included in the new Sprinter will be produced nationally; among them there are the following parts: air conditioner, dampers, seats, cardans, consoles, among others. The front axle and the engine are the most important parts of the plan including more than 50 Argentinian parts.

Moreover, the company is working to nationalize more parts and to develop new suppliers so the new Sprinter will be more locally integrated than its predecessor.

Increase in labour
Due to the beginning of the production of the 1720 truck and the beginning of the second production shift of the Sprinter, Mercedes-Benz Argentina has increased its staff by incorporating more than 300 new members. Nowadays, the company has more than 1800 employees. These numbers confirm once more that Mercedes-Benz is the most important industrial operation for commercial vehicles in Argentina.

More than 15,000 people, among employees, suppliers, builders of bodies, dealerships and workshops are part of the value chain of Mercedes-Benz Argentina.

In all its productive history in Argentina, Mercedes-Benz has manufactured in its Centro Industrial Juan Manuel Fangio almost half a million vehicles, including more than 180,000 trucks, more than 100,000 buses and more than 200,000 Sprinter.

Mercedes-Benz, leader in the market
Today, six decades after its foundation, almost half a million commercial vehicles have left the Centro Industrial Juan Manuel Fangio, in Buenos Aires Province. The great history of the company is a reason to be proud but also a commitment to the future. Mercedes-Benz Argentina strengthens its uninterrupted commitment to the national industry, with new projects and great challenges for the future, to continue growing and expanding destination markets.

At present and for the past six years, Mercedes-Benz is the leader in the commercial vehicle market. Regarding the bus segment, that leadership has existed since 1952, when local production began. Regarding utility vehicles, Sprinter is de undisputed leader in the passenger and tourism market.

Besides, Mercedes-Benz Argentina is one of the most admired companies in the market. Since its creation, it has been recognized in the most diverse image and prestige rankings among businessmen as well as users.
Recently, Mercedes-Benz Argentina has been chosen as the company with the best image in the county, obtaining the first place among the biggest Argentinian companies, according to the Pulse RepTrak report, carried out by the Reputation Institute together with IAE Business School of Universidad Austral.

Mercedes-Benz Commercial Network
For Mercedes-Benz Argentina the relationship with clients does not end with the purchase of the vehicle but it is there where it stars. For that purpose, all clients have the support of the biggest network of authorized Dealerships and Workshops, formed by 76 points of sales and post sales.

Since 2009, the commercial Network of Mercedes-Benz Argentina as a whole has invested more than 50 million dollars opening and remodelling dealerships in all the country in order to continue with the world corporate image renewal strategy of Mercedes-Benz and to continue to be aligned with the permanent objective to offer excellency in customer service.

Escuela Técnica Fundación Juan Manuel Fangio
Juan Manuel Fangio left a great legacy in Mercedes-Benz. Fangio had his first contact with Mercedes-Benz’s silver arrows in 1951, the relationship between the brand and the idol was incremented with the passing of time and it never ended.

Besides winning two Formula 1 world championships, the company gave Fangio a unique and special recognition by naming him Honorary and Life President of Mercedes-Benz Argentina, position he occupied exclusively in the Corporation, being the only person who was given said award in all the history of the company.

Fangio’s legacy is so important for Mercedes-Benz Argentina that in 1996 the plant was named as Centro Industrial Juan Manuel Fangio.

Besides, within the premises of the Industrial Centre functions since 1962 The Escuela Técnica Fundación Juan Manuel Fangio, which -apart from having a social function- is considered as one of the factory schools with the highest level in the country. Next year it will have been committed to education for 50 years. The company provides de economic and logistic means for its functioning; the annual investment reached is 400,000 Euros. Nowadays, more than 200 students attend the school for free.

The school provides and excellent educational level and it is free so that all members of the community can have access to it. The main purpose of the school is to prepare students with an integral formation and a comprehensive technical training in order to generate the human resources capable of entering the work market as well as being able to continue with superior studies. Students attending the school enrich their knowledge by practising in the Juan Manuel Fangio Industrial Centre.

History of Mercedes-Benz Argentina-Summary
- Mercedes-Benz Argentina is founded on September 6th 1951, and a few months later it begins assembling in the San Martín plant, SDK for trucks L3500, with 90CV OM312 engine and later the type L 6600 with OM315 engine. It also begins to assemble SKD for the first 170 SD taxis, known as “black ant” because of their shape and colour, and later on other versions of the same car as a van, pick-up and load box. These vehicles populated the city of Buenos Aires for years.

- In 1953, MBA becomes a corporation and acquires the land in route 3 km 43,5 in Virrey del Pino with some bodywork and maintenance machines. In that same year, begins the planning of the lines to manufacture and assemble units 3500,4500 and 6600; besides we begin to assemble bus LO 3500 and truck L5400.

- In 1954 the assembly of truck L6600 and bus OP3500 begins, much of the structure of the factory was built and the production of gearboxes was installed, while Juan Manuel Fangio became F1 world champion with a Mercedes-Benz team (and he would do it again in 1955).

- The 1960s where characterized by an important and growing industrial presence of the company in Argentina, since it began to have a more important presence in the transport of loads and passengers, which in the following decades became almost an absolute prominence. During this decade, two of the emblematic models of the brand in Argentina began to be manufactured: the historical 1112 and 1114. Then, in the seventies and eighties, MBA continues to support the industrial development of the country and the world, it brings to the country all the technological advances, and produces in its plant trucks, buses, engines and gearboxes.

- The 90s were marked by the beginning of the production of the Sprinter utility vehicle in the year 1996. As from that year, the Industrial Centre is named Centro Industrial Juan Manuel Fangio, and it becomes a highly competitive world platform for the production of utility vehicles within the Daimler Group.

- In 2000, 50,000 Sprinter units are produced, and one year later, the beginning of the production of Sprinter with the steering wheel on the right, which is exported to Australia, New Zealand and South Africa, is announced. In 2001, it was the 50th anniversary of the company in the country and Sprinter reaches other markets such as Jamaica and Great Britain.

- In 2002, Sprinter 19+1 is launched, produced only in Argentina, it is a true demonstration of the trust of the Headquarters and the excellency reached by the employees, since one year later, this vehicle begins to be exported to Germany, where it coexists with the Sprinters manufactured there.

- In 2004, Sprinter obtains the prize to the heavy utility vehicle of the year. One year later, the new Main Office moves to Puerto Madero and the Monument to Fangio is inaugurated. In 2006, 100,000 are produced in the Industrial Centre and millionaire investments are carried out to enlarge the production capacity.

- Two tears later, Mercedes-Benz Argentina reaches more than 55 countries worldwide, becoming the automotive terminal in Argentina with the most destinations abroad: a real pride. The Sprinter goes to China, Vietnam, Russia, Australia, South Africa, Germany, Spain, Holland, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, New Zealand, Ireland, France, Italy, and all Latin America and other 30 countries in the five continents. In that same year, and after many years working together with Chrysler, the company is named Mercedes-Benz Argentina again.

- In its 60 years of productive history in Argentina, Mercedes-Benz has produced in its Industrial Centre almost half a million commercial vehicles, more than 180,000 trucks, more than 100,000 buses and more than 200,000 Sprinters. These numbers speak clearly of the permanent industrial commitment of the company with the country and the unprecedented history of Mercedes-Benz in Argentina. An icon of load and passenger transport in the country.

- Today, Mercedes-Benz is the most important industrial operation of commercial vehicles in Argentina and the only producer of Large Vans in Argentina. Mercedes-Benz Argentina has a long productive and commercial history in the country. Today the same as yesterday, it accompanies the efforts of its people to grow and develop with a strong investment attitude and the renewed vocation for technology and quality in every day work.

- On January 29th 2011, we celebrated 125 years from the creation of the car by Carl Benz, one of the most important inventions in the history of humanity. Today, 125 years later, Mercedes-Benz is still a synonym of innovation and design. On June 24th it was be the hundredth anniversary of the birth of dear Juan Manuel Fangio in Balcarce. Fangio was one of the most successful racers in the history of motoring and one of the most outstanding personalities in F1.

Source. Daimler AG

In the anniversary year of the automobile, a team from Daimler is again among the three teams of researchers nominated for the prize by Federal President Christian Wulff. With their 6D-vision technology, which can make a vital contribution to the avoidance of accidents, the researchers won through against other potential candidates and are now nominated for the final selection.

“Road safety for all road users has always been a major area of focus and a core competence at Mercedes-Benz.” Prof Dr Thomas Weber, Member of the Board of Management Daimler AG, responsible for Group Research and Mercedes-Benz Cars Development, continues: “The 6D-Vision project represents a milestone along the road to accident-free driving and will form the basis of our future safety systems. I am absolutely delighted that this unique technology has been honoured in this special way by being nominated for the ”Deutscher Zukunftspreis” in our 125th anniversary year.”

Specifically named in the nomination were Dr Uwe Franke, Dr Stefan Gehrig and Dr Clemens Rabe, who are responsible for this pioneering project as part of their work in Daimler AG’s Research and Advance Development department for Assistance Systems and Chassis Systems.

6D-Vision – faster than the human eye to recognise danger
The Daimler research team’s 6D-Vision project opens up whole new possibilities for future assistance systems that will make our roads safer for all road users. Key to bringing about reductions in accidents is a timely and full understanding of the often very complex issues going on around a vehicle and of the traffic situation. Other road users have to be recognised within split seconds and possible collision hazards reliably identified. For the first time in a car, 6D-Vision is able to convey the three-dimensional perception of a person and the identification of potential risks on a small, powerful piece of hardware that is absolutely viable for series production.

6D-Vision uses a stereo camera, acting in much the same way as the two eyes of its human exemplar, to compute the three-dimensional geometry of the situation in front of the vehicle in real time from the images it sees, using special algorithms developed by Daimler to do so. An analysis of consecutive pairs of images allows instant and reliable identification of any movement. Dr Uwe Franke: “The capability of 6D-Vision is such that we are able to support the driver in precisely the sort of situation where the complexity of traffic conditions increases the potential for an accident, for example at junctions or in roadworks.”

Split seconds are crucial
By linking the perception of both space and time, it is possible to differentiate between stationary and animated objects, even from a moving vehicle. Animated objects, for example children running unexpectedly into the road, are perceived within 200 milliseconds across a broad range of vision. Even the most alert person takes twice as long to do so; and should he or she be distracted, a further 500 milliseconds may be added to this time. An additional moment of shock adds further delay while the situation is assessed and until a reaction kicks in.

In purely mathematical terms, one second at a speed of 50 km/h equates to a vehicle covering a distance of around 15 metres. The computer works twice as fast as the driver and initiates safety measures after just seven metres. In an emergency braking situation, the vehicle therefore comes to a standstill more than a whole vehicle length sooner.

Since 6D-Vision technology is seen as being able to contribute significantly to reductions in road traffic accidents, it is Daimler’s aim to make this technology available in the future to other manufacturers as well. Prof Dr Thomas Weber: “6D-Vision will take its place in the long line of safety innovations that have celebrated their premiere in our company over the last 125 years. Ultimately, however, it will benefit all motorists.”

The ”Deutscher Zukunftspreis” of the country’s Federal President has been awarded annually since 1997. As well as recognising scientific achievement, the award takes account of the marketability of a particular development. The award is given for projects that improve people’s lives, create new employment opportunities and sustain the country’s prosperity. Those organisations entitled to make nominations submit possible projects to an eminent jury made up of independent experts from both academia and industry. The jury then selects the three teams of researchers who, in their view, have the most innovative and marketable projects.

Daimler has been nominated for the award four times previously in the following areas:
1997 |”An environmentally compatible and resource-efficient fuel cell-based vehicle drive system”
2002 | “Protector – anticipatory emergency braking system for commercial vehicles”
2003 | “Anticipatory occupant protection system for passenger cars” 2006 | “Night View Assist – infrared technology for safer driving after dark”

The presentation of the award by German Federal President Christian Wulff will take place on 14 December 2011 in Berlin.

Source: Daimler AG

The settlement will be completed within the next eight bank working days. This means that the Tognum shareholders who tendered their shares before the extended offer period ended on June 20, 2011 will receive settlement within the next two weeks.

As of August 22, 2011, Engine Holding GmbH had secured approximately 96.78% of the Tognum shares. Tognum shareholders who have not yet accepted the takeover offer can tender their shares for purchase by Engine Holding GmbH at the offer price of €26 until midnight on November 10, 2011.

Through the acquisition of Tognum, Daimler and Rolls-Royce plan to create a leading supplier of complete industrial engine systems. The joint venture company will offer a broad range of products, services, and solutions worldwide.

Source: Daimler AG / Picture: Tognum

Upon completion of the public tender offer, the two companies will have acquired at least 95 percent of Tognum’s shares through their joint venture, Engine Holding GmbH. Reaching the 95-percent threshold represents another milestone for Daimler and Rolls-Royce in their takeover of Tognum.

When the 95-percent threshold is reached, German takeover law allows for an additional offer period for the Tognum shareholders who have not yet accepted the public tender offer. They can now tender their shares for purchase by Engine Holding GmbH at the offer price of 26 euros until midnight on November 10, 2011. Shareholders who would like to accept the offer should contact their custodian banks.

The public tender offer will be concluded when all relevant regulatory approvals have been issued. Clearance has already been received from the European Commission and eight other authorities. The takeover still has to be approved by the US foreign trade authorities and the Chinese antitrust authorities. Those approvals are expected to be issued in the third quarter of 2011.

With the acquisition of Tognum, Daimler and Rolls-Royce plan to create a leading supplier of complete systems in the field of industrial engines. The joint venture will have the advantage of a broad, global spread in terms of products, services and solutions.

On April 6, 2011, Daimler and Rolls-Royce made a public tender offer to buy shares from all of the shareholders of Tognum AG through their joint venture, Engine Holding GmbH; the price offered was increased on May 16 from the original 24 euros to 26 euros per Tognum share. The Board of Management and the Supervisory Board of Tognum AG support the takeover bid and the members of those boards have tendered their own shares. A total of 92.65 percent of Tognum’s shares have been tendered. Upon the expiry of the additional acceptance period on June 20, 2011, Daimler and Rolls-Royce had secured 94.17 percent of Tognum’s shares.

Source: Daimler AG

They additionally awarded the ultimate “Best of Best” plaudit to the Mercedes-Benz CLS in the Exterior category. The Concept A-Class interior was also deemed “Best of Best”, taking first place in the Interior area of the Concept & Study category.

The Automotive Brand Contest is the first international brand and design competition for the automotive industry. It was launched by the German Design Council, which was established as a foundation by decree of the German Bundestag back in 1953. The independent institution organises this competition dedicated exclusively to the automotive sector in order to acknowledge outstanding achievements in brand management, brand communication and design. In this way, the internationally reputed German Design Council highlights the great importance of design and brand image to the success of an automotive company.

Mercedes-Benz design director professor h.c. Gorden Wagener and his staff of around 500 based in Sindelfingen and at four studios abroad were found to be in a league of their own. The expert jury of the Automotive Brand Contest 2011 awarded them the title of “Team of the year”. “We are all delighted to receive this valuable award in recognition of a magnificent joint effort,” says professor Wagener. “Everyone in our team works with great dedication day-in, day-out to ensure that the Mercedes-Benz models of the future retain their distinctive, hallmark Mercedes character in keeping with the very highest aesthetic standards.”

Two “Best of Best” titles in the Automotive Brand Contest 2011 additionally underscore the Mercedes design team’s efforts. The Concept A-Class interior by Mercedes-Benz took first place in the Interior area of the Concept & Study category. Bionic cell structures, echoes of aircraft design, an operating concept with fully integrated smartphone and unique and revolutionary graphic design featuring three-dimensional, dynamically growing glass elements provide a foretaste of a new generation of the A-Class.

The “Best of Best” title in the Exterior category saw the new generation of the Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class following in the footsteps of its predecessor, which has long enjoyed international renown as a design icon. The new CLS combines an elegant coupé silhouette with an expressive front. Its dynamic, athletic figure features a beguiling composition of lines and surfaces and a dropping line, drawing on the uniquely rich fund of design treasures to be found in historical Mercedes sports cars to embody a contemporary aesthetic statement.

The awards will be presented at the Automotive Designers Night which is to take place at the Frankfurt International Motor Show on 13 September.

Source: Daimler AG

Net profit increased to €1,704 million, which was also a record level (Q2 2010: €1,312 million), and earnings per share amounted to €1.51 (Q2 2010: €1.18). “Daimler developed very dynamically in the second quarter in terms of unit sales, revenue and earnings,” stated Dr. Dieter Zetsche, Chairman of the Board of Management of Daimler AG and Head of Mercedes-Benz Cars. “The very good earnings trend is primarily a reflection of increased vehicle shipments by nearly all divisions. Mercedes-Benz Cars actually recorded its strongest-ever volumes and highest-ever quarterly EBIT,” Zetsche pointed out.

Daimler Trucks and Mercedes-Benz Vans were also able to significantly increase their unit sales compared with the prior-year quarter in all major regions. Daimler Financial Services profited in particular from the lower cost of risk.

Zetsche: “With our excellent first half of the year, we are fully on schedule to turn 2011 into one of the most successful years in our long corporate history. We now assume that Group EBIT will develop more positively than we previously expected and will very significantly exceed the level of 2010.”

Unit sales up by 6% in second quarter
In the second quarter of 2011, the Daimler Group sold 527,600 cars and commercial vehicles worldwide, surpassing the figure for the prior-year period by 6%.

Daimler’s revenue increased by 5% to €26.3 billion (Q2 2010: €25.1 billion); adjusted for exchange-rate effects, revenue grew by 9%.

The net liquidity of the industrial business developed very well and remained at a high level of €11.5 billion at June 30, 2011 (December 31, 2010: €11.9 billion). The positive free cash flow and the intra-Group dividend payment by the financial services business were offset by the payment of the dividend of €2.0 billion for the year 2010. Subject to the approval of the Supervisory Board, Daimler plans to contribute further cash to its German pension plan assets of up to €2 billion in the second half of 2011.

At the end of the second quarter of 2011, Daimler employed 266,114 people worldwide (June 30, 2010: 257,658). Of that total, 166,840 people were employed in Germany (June 30, 2010: 163,507).

Details of the divisions
Mercedes-Benz Cars continued its positive business development and increased its unit sales to a new record of 357,600 vehicles in the second quarter (Q2 2010: 342,500). The Mercedes-Benz brand also set a new record with sales of 327,800 units (Q2 2010: 314,400). Revenue rose by 4% to €14.6 billion.

The division achieved record EBIT of €1,566 million (Q2 2010: €1,376 million). Its return on sales was 10.7%, which was also a new record (Q2 2010: 9.8%). This positive earnings development was the result of further growth in unit sales, especially in the mid-sized segment and with SUVs. A good product mix, better pricing and lower warranty expenditures also contributed to the strong earnings. There were opposing, negative effects on earnings from increased prices of raw materials, increased use of resources in connection with the ramp-up of new vehicles and exchange-rate effects.

Daimler Trucks
The division posted EBIT of €474 million (Q2 2010: €300 million) and a return on sales of 7.1% (Q2 2010: 5.1%). The rise in earnings is primarily due to a renewed significant increase in unit sales in Europe and the United States. There was an opposing, negative impact on second-quarter earnings from increased material costs and high advance expenditure for the current product offensive. Earnings at Trucks Asia were reduced by decreases in unit sales and revenue (minus 32% and minus 24% respectively), mainly caused by the natural disaster in Japan.

Unit sales by Mercedes-Benz Vans increased by 14% to 68,000 vehicles (Q2 2010: 59,400). Revenue of €2.2 billion was also significantly higher than in the prior-year quarter (Q2 2010: €2.0 billion).

The division posted EBIT of €206 million (Q2 2010: €127 million) and its return on sales improved to 9.2% from 6.4% in the prior-year quarter. The main factors behind this development were the ongoing market recovery and significant growth in unit sales, especially in Germany and the United States. The excellent market reception for the new-generation Vito and Viano models made a major contribution. Earnings were also positively affected by sustained efficiency improvements and better pricing. On the other hand, the division’s EBIT was negatively affected by higher material costs.

Daimler Buses sold 10,600 buses and bus chassis worldwide in the second quarter (Q2 2010: 10,800). Revenue of €1.17 billion was slightly lower than in the prior-year period (Q2 2010: €1.21 billion).

The division’s EBIT of €61 million did not quite match its very good prior-year earnings (Q2 2010: €79 million). Its return on sales was 5.2% (Q2 2010: 6.6%). This earnings decrease was caused by lower unit sales of complete buses in Europe, which could not be offset by the positive development of business in Latin America and Turkey. Negative exchange-rate effects were an additional factor.

Daimler Financial Services
The division’s EBIT of €340 million was substantially higher than in the prior-year period (Q2 2010: €171 million). The improvement in earnings was mainly caused by lower risk provisions and better interest margins.
The divisions’ EBIT is reconciled to Group EBIT. This reconciliation primarily reflects the proportionate share of the results of the equity-method investment in EADS as well as other gains and losses at the corporate level.

Outlook
In light of the better than anticipated performance in the first half of 2011 and the currently good market demand, the Daimler Group now targets EBIT from the ongoing business in 2011 that will be better than previously expected and will very significantly exceed the level of 2010. Developments in the first two quarters have shown that the Group continues to make good progress towards the targeted rates of return to be achieved on a sustained basis as of the year 2013. Those targeted rates of return are 10% for Mercedes-Benz Cars, 8% for Daimler Trucks, 9% for Mercedes-Benz Vans and 6% for Daimler Buses; the targeted return on equity for Daimler Financial Services is 17%.

On the basis of the divisions’ planning, Daimler expects to achieve another increase in Group revenue to significantly more than €100 billion in full-year 2011. The growth should be driven by all of the automotive divisions.

Total unit sales will also increase significantly (2010: 1.9 million vehicles). Daimler assumes that unit sales in the third and fourth quarters of this year will be higher than in the respective prior-year quarters for all divisions.

In view of the continuation of generally good market prospects combined with numerous model changes and new products, Mercedes-Benz Cars assumes that the Mercedes-Benz brand will increase its unit sales to a new record in 2011. Thanks to the up-to-date and competitive model range, the division will profit also in the year 2011 from strong demand for the numerous new models in the C-Class segment and from the continuing market success of the S-Class.

The new-generation C-Class sedan and station wagon and the new SLK roadster have been providing additional sales impetus since late March 2011. Deliveries of the C-Class coupe started in June, to be followed by the new model of the M-Class in September and the roadster version of the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG in the fourth quarter. In November, the new B-Class will be launched – the first of four new models in the compact-car segment.

On the engines side, Daimler is introducing its particularly fuel-efficient four, six and eight-cylinder engines and the eco-start-stop technology in additional models, thus further reducing the fleet’s CO2 emissions. With the new generation of the C-Class, for example, the C 220 CDI is available with fuel consumption of just 4.4 liters per 100 kilometers and CO2 emissions of 117 grams per kilometer.
For the smart brand, the division anticipates unit sales at roughly the same level as in 2010 due to the full availability of the new generation of the smart fortwo.

Daimler Trucks will post strong growth in unit sales compared with 2010. Due to the economic upswing, the division anticipates encouraging growth rates in most of its core markets. In Western Europe, it will profit from the rapid market growth and will continue to occupy the leading position in the medium and heavy-duty segments. And it is also the market leader in Classes 6 to 8 of the dynamically expanding truck market in the NAFTA region.

The aftereffects of the earthquake are still having an impact on unit sales in Japan, although Trucks Asia otherwise has high levels of orders received. It anticipates a stabilization of this region’s market in the second half of the year. The division will further improve its position in other parts of Asia, especially China, and in other emerging markets with high growth rates.

Projections are supported by current incoming orders: In the first half of 2011, Daimler Trucks received orders for 240,200 trucks. This is the highest volume since record year 2006 and 42% more than in the prior-year period. Unit sales in the second half of 2011 are therefore expected to surpass the unit sales posted in the first half of the year.

Due to the ongoing market recovery, Mercedes-Benz Vans also expects to achieve growth in unit sales in its key markets in full-year 2011. In Western Europe, the division will defend its leading market position for medium-sized and large vans and will participate in the market’s growth. Significant increases in unit sales are expected particularly in the United States and China – also due to the launch of the new Sprinter. Increased production capacities in Argentina will also boost growth.

Daimler Buses assumes it will sell more than 40,000 complete buses and bus chassis in the year 2011, although this high volume will be due solely to the positive development of chassis sales in Latin America. The development of business with complete buses in Western Europe and North America is expected to remain weak.

Daimler Financial Services anticipates growth in its worldwide contract volume and new business in the second half of the year. The division also assumes that credit-risk costs will remain lower than in the prior year. However, interest rates are expected to rise as the year progresses.

Due to the strong demand for its products, the Daimler Group assumes that its worldwide workforce will expand compared with the end of 2010.

Source: Daimler AG

Wilfried Porth has been a member of the Board of Management of Daimler AG since April 8, 2009 and is responsible for Human Resources; at the same time, he is the company’s Director of Labor Relations. In addition, he is responsible for IT and Procurement of Non-Production Materials and Services.
Wilfried Porth’s contract would have expired at the end of April 2012. In accordance with Section 84 Subsection 1 of the German Stock Corporation Act (AktG), the Supervisory Board makes a decision on a reappointment after the beginning of the last year of the respective period of service.

Wilfried Porth was born in Baden-Baden on February 2, 1959. He studied mechanical engineering at the University of Stuttgart from 1981 to 1985 and graduated as an engineer. He joined the then Daimler-Benz AG as a planning engineer in 1985.

His previous positions in the company include:
- Executive Vice President, MB Vans, 2006
- Executive Vice President, CEO Mitsubishi Fuso Truck & Bus Corp. (MFTBC) Japan, 2003
- Vice President, Executive Management Development, DCAG Headquarters, 2000
- Management Board Member Manufacturing, MB South Africa, 1997
- Head of Bus Production, MB do Brasil, 1994
- Corporate Secretary, MBAG Headquarters, 1992

Source: Daimler AG

Covering almost 1,000 square meters, this latest studio will contribute to the future design of Mercedes-Benz automobiles, the four other studios being located in Germany, Italy, Japan and the USA. Present at the opening were Mr. Ulrich Walker, Chairman and CEO of Daimler Northeast Asia Ltd., Mr. Steffen Köhl, Head of Advanced Design Global Mercedes-Benz, and Professor Olivier Boulay, Vice President of the Mercedes-Benz Advanced Design Center of China.

Ulrich Walker said, “The opening of the Mercedes-Benz Advanced Design Center in Beijing, underlines Daimler’s commitment to China, by recognizing the increasing importance of this market and the influence it is having on design trends and mobility solutions worldwide – as such, this studio will play an essential part of our clearly defined strategy to ensure sustainable business growth. With China predicted to be our largest market globally by 2015, through annual sales of 300,000 vehicles, design influences from this region will become more important in the cars of tomorrow.”

Steffen Köhl added: “For us at Mercedes-Benz, we see design as a trademark – design has been shaping our image since our beginnings, defining our core values of fascination, responsibility and perfection. It is not a matter of chasing fads but working on long-living, outstanding, sensual and sporty design. Mercedes-Benz Design will always enhance our brand, ensuring our ideas meet the highest standards in aesthetics, technology, performance, comfort and safety, in line with our ‘The best or nothing’ brand philosophy.”

Professor Olivier Boulay further commented, “With Beijing being a dynamic and vibrant megacity, it is progressively shaping future design trends, making the establishment of our Advanced Design Center here timely. As designers, we need to ‘live in the future’, thinking at least two or three vehicle generations ahead. For us, that means considering every aspect of future mobility, including things such as town planning and improvements in infrastructure. This new studio will provide a creative environment for us all to indulge our imaginations, free of commercial constraints.”

Design is integral to brand identity, particularly for Mercedes-Benz, which is celebrating 125 years as inventor of the automobile. All designers at the five studios, centrally managed by Germany, play an important role in envisioning future mobility solutions – not only next generation series production models, but models that will grace our roads in three or more decades – ensuring each Mercedes-Benz looks fresh, aesthetic and stylish, without losing the traditional gene pool and brand identity.

The new Beijing-based Advanced Design Center is no exception and will serve as a seismograph, recording and analyzing stylistic trends and incorporating them into the creative process. In particular, the design team will strongly draw on inspiration from their surroundings in China, taking into account cultural and environmental influences, such as road congestion and lack of parking, to truly think about all aspects of future mobility. With over 10 staff from different countries, including France, China, Malaysia, Japan and the Philippines, the multi-cultural environment allows for a complete international approach, enhancing creativity in the development of mobility solutions for the world – both for the interior and exterior design of future generation vehicles.

Although Daimler now has a dedicated design studio in Beijing for Mercedes-Benz cars, there has actually been a design office here since the beginning of 2009, working on various projects. In fact one such project, already being hailed a design icon, is the smart escooter concept shown at last year’s Paris Auto Show, which is a nod to future intelligent green mobility solutions. With a dynamic, elegant appearance, the compact dimensions of this scooter have been designed to incorporate many features, including ample storage space and safety features such as an airbag, ABS anti-lock brake system, as well as Blind Spot Assist. One of the most innovative design features is the smartphone, which serves as the scooter’s control and communications center. The celebrated design is a promising sign of what is yet to come from the Beijing design team.

As China continues to influence the auto industry, Daimler will continue to expand its business activities here and through its Mercedes-Benz brand, will carry on reinventing the car with innovative designs to realize an emission-free and accident-free world, leading the way in intelligent mobility solutions for future generations.

Source: Daimler AG

A total amount of more than 2 billion US dollars is invested for the production of the new M-Class, the successor generations of the GL-Class and the C-Class, and the expansion of production capacities.

Dr. Dieter Zetsche, Chairman of the Daimler Board of Management and Head of Mercedes-Benz Cars: “We’re continuing to write new chapters of the plant’s success story with significant investments into the future. Tuscaloosa was the first production location of Mercedes-Benz Cars ever outside Germany, and today it is among our best. As our ‘pioneering plant’, it is also the blueprint for our new operations in emerging markets.” In a special address to the entire MBUSI team, Zetsche highlighted their contributions: “A big thank you to the team that helped us get that far – all of you.”

MBUSI hosted a special new M-Class “Job 1” Celebration on July 20th in which Markus Schaefer, President and CEO of MBUSI, welcomed the 2,800 MBUSI team members, as well as guests including Alabama Governor Robert Bentley and Tuscaloosa Mayor Walt Maddox. Also attending the ceremony with Dr. Dieter Zetsche were Dr. Wolfgang Bernhard, board member Production and Procurement Mercedes-Benz Cars and Mercedes-Benz Vans, Dr. Thomas Weber, board member Group Research and Mercedes-Benz Cars development, and Dr. Joachim Schmidt, Executive Vice President Sales and Marketing, Mercedes-Benz Cars.

Referring to the production launch of the new M-Class, Schaefer said: “Demand for the M-Class in our 14 years of production has clearly surpassed all our expectations – in terms of sales, customer loyalty, and popularity. And customers will soon recognize that our all-new M-Class is again setting new benchmarks in the SUV segment – in terms of efficiency, safety, agility, driving enjoyment and design.”
Schaefer also pointed out the value of the outstanding community relations which MBUSI enjoys: “Today, we also celebrate the successful cooperation we have had with the State of Alabama and local governments since we first announced our decision to come to Alabama. We truly appreciate this leadership. ”

Looking back at the disaster of the tornados that hit the South of the U.S. and especially the City of Tuscaloosa on April 27, 2011, Schaefer also announced that MBUSI will donate an additional 100,000 US dollars to Alabama tornado relief and recovery efforts. On May 05, Daimler and MBUSI had committed a cash donation of 1 million US dollars to a number of charities in West and Central Alabama to support emergency and reconstruction projects and to help the Alabama community begin on this path to recovery.

About MBUSI
The Tuscaloosa plant was founded in 1995 and started production in 1997. The Mercedes-Benz M-Class was the first product and has been built ever since, later joined by the SUVs of the GL- and R-Class. In 2010, the plant produced more than 125,000 vehicles and employed some 2,800 team members at the end of the year. As of 2014, the Tuscaloosa plant will also produce the successor generation of the current C-Class for the North American market – as one of the four global production locations along with the C-Class center of competence in Bremen, Germany, the South African plant in East London, and the Chinese Production location Beijing Benz Automotive Co., Ltd. (BBAC).

Quelle: Daimler AG

“Two out of five Mercedes-Benz cars and every fourth commercial vehicle of the Daimler group worldwide is financed or leased by Daimler Financial Services. We intend to replicate this success story in India as soon as possible”, commented Mr. Klaus Entenmann, Chairman of the Board of Management of Daimler Financial Services AG. “Daimler Financial Services aims to reach a contract volume of USD 500 million in India in five years”, he added.

Daimler Financial Services operates in 40 countries worldwide. With Page 2 a contract volume of Euro 63.7 billion at the end of 2010, it is one of the world’s largest automotive financial services providers for passenger cars and the world’s largest provider of financing for trucks, buses and vans. Furthermore it provides automotive insurance solutions with a contract portfolio of more then 1.8 million contracts.
The new subsidiary in India is registered as Daimler Financial Services India Pvt Ltd. The company offers comprehensive finance, leasing and insurance products to customers and dealers of Mercedes-Benz cars in India under the brand ‘Mercedes-Benz Financial’ with immediate effect.

“In 2010, we sold more than 5.800 units in India, nearly double of our previous year’s sales figure. The luxury car market in India and Mercedes-Benz India in particular is on a dynamic growth path. With 75% of Indian car customers opting for vehicle finance, our financial services solutions and innovative products will be a catalyst in the purchase process. It is here that Mercedes-Benz Financial with seamless integration across all our dealerships will play a pivotal role”, says Mr. Peter Honegg, Managing Director & CEO of Mercedes-Benz India.

By 2012, Daimler’s truck brand BharatBenz is expected to be operational. Daimler Financial Services will then also support sales with financial services for BharatBenz.

Daimler Financial Services has announced an initial investment of USD 50 million as part of its market entry and has put in place an electronic point-of-sales system to deliver speedy loan approval decisions and contract processing across all Mercedes-Benz dealerships. With 50 experienced industry professionals already on board and more to join soon, Daimler Financial Services India has set out for itself an ambitious growth path and a robust business outlook. Right from the beginning Daimler Financial Services India will offer a motor insurance product that was developed together with the strategic partner Bajaj Allianz.

Mr. Sidhartha Nair, Managing Director of Daimler Financial Services India, elaborated further: “We want to be the first choice provider of financial services products for our dealers and customers in India in the near term. Our one-stop solution for customers who buy a vehicle and demand finance and insurance in a quick and efficient manner will differentiate us from others.”

Source: Daimler AG

If needs be, they can even provide a realistic simulation of a mercilessly hot sun. The new climatic wind tunnels make it possible for the engineers to optimise new vehicles or components for all possible weather conditions at a very early stage of the development process. So in future, real-life road tests, in arctic cold or the blazing heat of the desert, will only take place with prototypes that have already reached an advanced stage of development by being thoroughly tried and tested under the most extreme climatic influences. This enables Mercedes-Benz to achieve the highest possible quality. The clear ambition to do so has been a key element in the philosophy of the world’s oldest automotive manufacturer for the last 125 years.

Cars these days first take shape on the computer. The initial crash tests, aerodynamic studies or suspension testing, too, are undertaken as electronic simulations in a virtual world, long before the first prototype is built. Simulations like this can never, however, replace the use of test rigs or real-life tests.

In order to close further the gap between simulation and real-life testing, Mercedes-Benz has now taken two new state-of-the-art climatic wind tunnels at its Sindelfingen site into operation, following two years of construction work. This marks the completion to schedule of the next stage of expansion for the Mercedes-Benz Technology Centre. Research, development, design, planning and production teams work together at the Sindelfingen location in a close network that is unmatched by any other automotive manufacturer in the world.

Vehicle testing in its finest form
One of the two new climatic wind tunnels is designed as a cold tunnel, with a temperature range of minus 40 to plus 40 degrees Celsius. The new hot tunnel, on the other hand, offers a temperature range of minus 10 to plus 60 degrees. Each tunnel is equipped with an integrated twin-axle roller dynamometer that allows speeds of up to 265 km/h – and thus with sufficient reserves for even sports cars to be tested on the rig here.

The new climatic wind tunnels replace the cold tunnel that has been used until now, in which temperatures down to minus 20 degrees Celsius and speeds of up to 64 km/h are possible, as well as a hot tunnel in which the maximum limits are plus 40 degrees Celsius and a top speed of 100 km/h.

Dr Thomas Weber, Member of the Board of Management of Daimler AG responsible for Group Research and Mercedes-Benz Cars Development: “Even in the arctic regions of Sweden, the temperatures in winter are not always as low as we would like them to be for our test drives. Likewise, nor can we always rely on getting the extreme high summer temperatures we need for testing, even in America’s infamous Death Valley. In our new climatic wind tunnels we can create whatever climate conditions we want at any time of year, whenever we need them. And we can do so with very tight tolerances, so the measurements can be reproduced at any time. That’s just not possible out in the open air.”

As Ulrich Mellinghoff, Head of Mercedes Safety Development adds: “We don’t want to use the new climatic wind tunnels as a substitute for road testing, but we can now do less of it and are also far better prepared when we do go out. For example, if we have 20 different engine heat shields, we can already eliminate many of them in the climatic wind tunnel because they don’t have the desired effect. We will then go on to do real-life testing with just the most promising two or three variants. We therefore spare ourselves a lot of very time-consuming road tests early on, and yet our prototypes are still at a much further advanced stage of development. And that means that we can meet our very challenging objectives much sooner.”

Realistic road tests in all weather conditions
The scope offered by the new tunnels is indeed enormous. They can be used to simulate virtually any environmental impact under a whole range of operating conditions. Driving under either full or partial load can be simulated, at top speed or at the crawling speed of a traffic jam, uphill or down, in order to test the brakes to their limits. And pretty well any sort of weather is possible. Extremes of heat and cold, dry desert air or the humidity of the jungle, drizzle or a heavy downpour, sleet or snowstorm, cloudy skies or blazing sunshine – the test engineers have a vast repertoire of weather conditions at their fingertips.

They take advantage of this in order to test a vast range of vehicle components and functions. They can test, for example, the engine cooling system under very different stresses. Or they can check whether the air conditioning and heating systems are capable of regulating the interior temperature in all circumstances, so ensuring that the occupants remain comfortable. The engineers will also take a detailed look at the windscreen wiper function to see if the side windows stay clear in filthy weather. In the new cold tunnel, they can even find out if snow swirled up by a truck driving ahead of the car is likely to block the air intakes. And of course they also subject the vehicle electronics to extreme climatic conditions, and test dozens of other vehicle components in the weather test station. From an engineer’s point of view, it is particularly important that the tests can all be repeated at any time under precisely the same conditions in order to verify the results – a luxury that nature does not always afford.

Fit for the future with alternative drive systems
A further advantage of the new climatic wind tunnels: they are designed to accommodate the use of hydrogen and therefore eminently suitable for all alternative drive systems of the future. Special sensors and an effective air extraction system mean that fuel-cell powered vehicles can also be subjected to exacting test programmes here.

Wind and weather tunnel plus roller dynamometer – all in one
There is a lot of complex engineering behind the exceptional capabilities delivered by the Mercedes-Benz’s new climatic wind tunnels. Around two thirds of the new 18-metre-high building, which covers an area 70 x 60 metres in size, is taken up by the two test rigs and their associated offices, including the control room. Vast and very well insulated windows enable the technicians to monitor every test extremely closely and to regulate temperature, humidity and wind speed as well as other settings. During a test, the sensors in the various measuring devices transmit their data to computers, where it is then displayed on monitors.

In order to simulate the road surface in each of the tunnels, powerful electric motors are used to drive four precision-built rollers, each almost two metres in diameter. As a result, even all-wheel drive vehicles can be tested under realistic conditions. The new climatic wind tunnels are furthermore so designed that they can be used by Mercedes-Benz to test a broad range of vehicle models – from the smart to the Sprinter.

The test rig is designed with an overall output of 600 kW; under overload conditions even 780 kW is possible for short periods. As a result, top speeds of up to 265 km/h are possible. The maximum tractive force of the dynamometer is 12,000 N per axle, under overload 20,000 N (to put it another way: a force of 20,000 N is sufficient to accelerate 1000 kilograms to 72 km/h in one second; acceleration is thus 20 m/s2; as a comparison, gravitational acceleration in free fall is 9.81 m/s2.

During braking tests, the rollers produce a similarly high negative force. This allows, for example, the simulation of long downhill stretches in high summer temperatures, so putting far more strain on the brakes than would be conceivable in real life.

If the test vehicle’s wheels are being turned by the power of its own engine, the dynamometer takes the output produced by the vehicle engine and acts as a generator to convert this into electrical power, which it feeds into the grid. The dynamometer then produces electricity as it measures, so reducing energy consumption.

From a light breeze to a hurricane
As a general rule: whatever the route profile, the vehicle and its components are always tested under real-life conditions with a flow of air around them. This is provided in both new test facilities by a powerful wind tunnel. Its turbine can produce any form of airflow required, from a light breeze to a hurricane. As an extreme example, snowstorms with hurricane-force winds of up to 200 km/h would also be possible. Even at wind speeds of over 100 km/h, a human being cannot stand without something to hold on to.

Of course the wind speed can also be regulated as required. The airflow is controlled via a speed-regulated fan as well as by air jets with an adjustable airflow cross-section. As a rule of thumb: the smaller the cross-sectional area of the jet, the higher the speeds that can be achieved. For tests with passenger cars, the usual cross-section is eight square metres; for larger vehicles such as the Sprinter, it is increased to twelve square metres. For the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG and other sports cars, on the other hand, the test engineers will choose a smaller opening, with an airflow cross-section of seven square metres.

As well as by adjustment of the wind speed, the sensitive regulation of climatic conditions is made possible by the ability to set the relative humidity in both the cold and the hot tunnel to a level between 5 and 95 percent. The two climatic wind tunnels do however differ in their further details, in order to be able to fulfil the wide-ranging requirements of the engineers.

Arctic cold and snowstorms in the cold tunnel
The temperature range in the cold tunnel stretches from minus 40 degrees to plus 40 degrees Celsius and thus accommodates most normal weather conditions with a generous margin. At temperatures above zero, it is possible to simulate an hourly rainfall level of up to 80 litres per square metre. At sub-zero temperatures, it is not a problem to produce even the heaviest sort of snowstorm, in which the snowflakes fly into the test vehicles at 200 km/h.

One important area of focus in the cold tunnel involves the de-icing process. Here, the heating system has to de-ice the windows of a previously deep-frozen vehicle as quickly as possible. A camera meticulously records this defrosting process.

The cold tunnel is also fitted with equipment used to simulate the build-up of dirt. In this case, the vehicle is sprayed during the test with a liquid that is visible under ultra-violet light and so can be reliably used as a means of revealing potential weak spots, which show up in the automatic photographic and video records of the test.

Simulating the desert sun in the hot tunnel
In the hot tunnel, it is possible to generate temperatures in the range from minus 10 to plus 60 degrees Celsius. The facility also includes a system for simulating the sun. Its 32 lamps radiate light with an intensity range equivalent to that of real sunlight. Over an area of 8 by 2.5 metres, it is possible to regulate this intensity to between 200 and 1200 watts per square metre. The higher figure here is comparable with the intensity of the real sun only as experienced in very few places in the world – such as Death Valley in the USA or in one or two remote desert locations. Even there it is only reached around midday when the sun is vertically overhead, corresponding as it does to a temperature of more than 50 degrees Celsius.

In the new Mercedes-Benz hot tunnel, the whole sun simulation system can be tilted sideways to as far as just five degrees above the horizon. This makes it possible to imitate very realistically the course of the sun through the day or to conduct meaningful tests in conditions involving strong sunlight from one side. Even rapid fluctuations of light and temperature, such as those experienced when clouds appear or when driving into a tunnel, can be included in the test programme. Fine mesh panels can be pushed over the front of the lamps to simulate the effect of clouds, while solid covers can be put over the lamps to imitate the abrupt change of light that comes when entering a tunnel.

A further development tool used in the new hot tunnel is the Hot Road, a simulated hot road surface, the temperature of which can be set on a continuously variable scale to between 50 and 70 degrees Celsius. This is used to simulate the heat radiated by a road in summer, as a means, once again, of creating conditions that are as realistic as possible.

State-of-the-art extinguisher
In case of an unexpected incident, both hot and cold tunnels are equipped with a high-pressure water mist extinguishing system. Should, for example, a vehicle component catch fire, perhaps as a result of overheating brakes, jet nozzles will shoot up out of the floor in just fractions of a second to smother the fire in a fine mist of tiny water droplets. This mist has the effect of cutting off the supply of oxygen to the fire, while the large surface area of the water droplets also cools the vehicle down and prevents any further fire. Another positive effect: even if a test engineer is still inside the vehicle, the extinguishing system can nevertheless be immediately triggered.

Furthermore, by using this form of extinguisher, damage to the costly prototype is kept to a minimum.

Efficient preparation ensures good usage levels
The main objective for Mercedes-Benz in building the two new climatic wind tunnels was to use efficient methods to improve vehicle quality still further. This meant bringing nature, with all its extremes of weather, right into the test facility.

But efforts to achieve efficiency do not end at this point. The facility around the two climatic wind tunnels also includes six conditioning chambers in which the prototypes are prepared for testing. In these the vehicles can, for example, be pre-cooled before being taken by an ingenious new transport system, in less than ten minutes, to the large climatic wind tunnels. Once in the tunnel they can even be refuelled during endurance testing with preconditioned fuel.

Two of the six conditioning chambers also have acoustic insulation shielding them from external noise. These conditions provide the ideal environment for the engineers in which to track down those irritating switching or clicking sounds that only occur under certain climatic conditions.

A large workshop area with all the relevant machinery and workshop equipment facilitates this advance preparation of the vehicles. Changes to vehicles or further preparation work can thus be completed on-site within a very short space of time, without the need to transfer vehicles to outlying workshops.

Measures such as these ensure that the time actually spent in the costly climate tunnels is kept to a minimum and that each vehicle can be very quickly followed by another. The aim is to maximise the use made of the facility. This objective has already been met, for just a few weeks after the first trial run, the facility is currently operating with 20 members of staff working in two shifts.

More effective road tests, around the world
The results from the climatic wind tunnels are confirmed, as ever, in real-life testing in some of the most extreme climatic conditions on earth, such as the deserts of Dubai or Namibia, the heat of Death Valley, the cold and snow of northern Sweden or the heat and humidity of the tropical jungle. But this road testing now no longer needs to start quite so early, and is used essentially for verification purposes. This, in turn, has a further side effect: the engineers and prototypes no longer need to fly so often to those far-flung corners of the earth, while the total number of test kilometres driven is also much lower. The overall ecological impact of every vehicle is therefore very positively reduced.

Source: Daimler AG

The new company, which is to be set up under the name EM-motive GmbH, will develop and produce innovative electric motors – also known as traction motors – for electric vehicles. The company will have its headquarters and manufacturing facilities in Hildesheim. The joint venture’s engineering site will be located close to the parent companies in the Stuttgart area. Some 100 employees are expected to start working for the joint venture in the fourth quarter of this year. EM-motive GmbH will be headed up by two directors of equal rank, one from each partner company.

According to Prof. Dr. Herbert Kohler, Vice President e-drive & Future Mobility in Group Research & Advanced Engineering and Chief Environmental Officer of Daimler AG: “Like lithium-ion batteries, electric motors are key components for our electric vehicles. It is extremely important that competence in this field is maintained in Germany. In joining forces with Bosch, we have now teamed up with a long-standing partner, and are confident that this move will lead to outstanding results.”

Wolf-Henning Scheider, the member of the board of management of Robert Bosch GmbH responsible for the Chassis Systems Control, Electrical Drives, and Starter Motors and Generators divisions, says: “This alliance is an investment in securing the future of the European automotive industry. It is also a perfect addition to our portfolio of electric motors for all our customers”.

The aim of the cooperation between Daimler and Bosch in the field of electric mobility is to pool competencies and exploit synergies, and as a result to accelerate the development of premium traction motors for electric vehicles with battery, fuel cell, or range extender. The preparatory activities for the establishment of the joint venture have already begun, and the production of motors is due to commence at the start of 2012. From that same year, the traction motors will be used in the electric vehicles of both the Mercedes-Benz and smart brands, starting with the new generation of the smart fortwo electric drive, which is to go on sale in early 2012.

The distinctive feature of the electric motors produced by the joint venture is their modular design, which means that they can be installed in a wide variety of all-electric vehicles.

The joint venture will supply its parent companies with electric motors for electric vehicles. Sales to third parties will be carried out by Bosch. According to current plans, the joint venture will have produced more than one million electric motors in all by 2020.

When it comes to the development and production of electric traction motors, both companies will be contributing their engineering know-how. As a leading supplier to the automotive industry, the technology and service company Bosch has a high level of expertise and decades of experience in both the development and production of electric motors.

For its part, the automotive manufacturer Daimler can draw on more than 20 years of experience in the field of electromobility, particularly in fuel cells and batteries. It thus has extensive competence with respect to the development and production of electric vehicles.

Source: Daimler AG

Hubertus Troska, Head of Mercedes-Benz Trucks Europe/Latin America: “We are currently recording high growth rates in Brazil and Latin America. Our sales numbers are developing superbly, and our commercial vehicles production is running at full capacity.

Last year we sold 162,000 trucks over six tons GVW in Brazil, and the sales figure for this year will be even higher. We expect our market volume there to exceed 200,000 units by 2020. We want to have a full share in this positive market development, and the hiring of the new employees will help us to do so.”

The need for transport in Brazil and Latin America is growing every day due to the strong economic development in the agricultural sector, in mining, and in the construction industry thanks to infrastructure contracts for government programs. And that is also boosting demand for trucks. Mercedes-Benz do Brasil is therefore adjusting its production capacities in Brazil in line with these developments. Most of the new employees will be assigned to the production of trucks and auxiliary equipment at São Bernardo do Campo (São Paulo).

“As the biggest manufacturer of commercial vehicles in Latin America, Mercedes-Benz is aiming to further increase its competitiveness in the region. The company has therefore decided, for the first time in its history, to institute an entire third shift for manufacturing trucks in Brazil, which has resulted in more than 540 new hires to be dedicated solely to this new shift,” reports Jürgen Ziegler, President of Mercedes-Benz do Brasil and CEO for Latin America. “These new hires are helping us to exploit the technical capacity to produce 75,000 commercial vehicles in Brazil in 2011. With this step we are responding to the growing demand for commercial vehicles in our region. Our goal is to further strengthen the market-leading role of Mercedes-Benz commercial vehicles in Latin America,” adds Ziegler.

With the new hires Mercedes-Benz do Brasil is increasing its workforce at the São Bernardo do Campo (São Paulo) location and in Juiz de Fora (Minas Gerais) to a combined total of more than 14,500 employees, thus confirming its position as the biggest employer among the commercial vehicles companies in Latin America.

Mercedes-Benz is also boosting its competitiveness in the Argentinean market and reacting to the increased demand by expanding commercial vehicle production at the plant in Argentina and adding 300 jobs. A total of about 1,800 people will then be working at Mercedes-Benz’ Juan Manuel Fangio plant in Gonzalez Catan. Mercedes-Benz Argentina is manufacturing the Sprinter in a second shift as of August this year and has also began producing trucks in May this year. This higher capacity is a result of the National Program for Renewal, which was introduced this year by the government in Argentina. The program ensures that transport companies have access to credit at attractive rates for purchases of new commercial vehicles.

Mercedes-Benz is Latin America’s biggest manufacturer of trucks and buses
Mercedes-Benz do Brasil is the biggest truck and bus manufacturer in Latin America. Its São Bernardo do Campo plant is Daimler’s biggest outside of Germany and the only one where trucks, bus chassis, auxiliary equipment — including engines, transmissions and axles — and truck cabs are produced at a single location.

The Mercedes-Benz Technology Center at the location, which is the largest, most modern research and development center for trucks and buses in Brazil, is enabling Mercedes-Benz do Brasil to further expand and improve the future line-up of products for Brazil and Latin America.

Investments in commercial vehicles
Last year Mercedes-Benz do Brasil announced an investment of approximately R$1.5 billion (about €650 million) in the plants in São Bernardo do Campo and Juiz de Fora, as well as in the development units of Mercedes-Benz do Brasil for the period between 2010 and 2013, with the purpose of significantly increasing production capacity.
The capacity at the largest, most advanced production facility in Brazil will thus be increased to 75,000 units per year, which corresponds to an increase of about 15 percent.

In addition, the Mercedes-Benz location in Juiz de Fora (Minas Gerais) became part of the worldwide Mercedes-Benz commercial vehicles production network. And, starting in early 2012, Mercedes-Benz trucks in the Actros MP3 production series and the Accelo will be produced at the plant for the Latin American market in order to fully exploit future growth potential.

Source: Daimler AG

The signing ceremony was held in the presence of German Chancellor Dr. Angela Merkel and the Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao. Attending were Dr. Dieter Zetsche, Chairman of the Board of Management of Daimler AG and Head of Mercedes-Benz Cars, Ulrich Walker, Chairman and CEO of Daimler Northeast Asia, and Xu Heyi, Chairman of BAIC.

With this agreement, Daimler is further expanding its activities in China and the successful cooperation with BAIC. About 2 billion euros will be invested in the Joint Venture Beijing Benz Automotive Co, Ltd. (BBAC).
Dr. Dieter Zetsche: “With this framework agreement, we are laying the essential strategic foundations for our long-term and significant participation in the growth of the key market China. The projects agreed upon are further central elements of our China strategy for the sustainable development of our business. As early as 2020, at least one in five premium compact cars is expected to be sold in China. In the light of this enormous growth potential, we are resolutely switching to attack mode with the local production of our new compacts.”

The agreement includes the following projects:
Local passenger car production for the Chinese market will be expanded to include the GLK compact SUV as of 2011 as well as three models of the new generation of Mercedes-Benz premium compact cars. The first of these models will be produced as of 2013; the two others will follow step by step.

Current production capacities of about 80,000 units for the C-Class and the E-Class long version will be further expanded in line with market demand.

As of 2013, a new engine plant will produce 4-cylinder gasoline engines, which will be used in locally produced Mercedes-Benz passenger cars and vans. The planned technical capacity of this engine plant will be expanded to 250,000 units, of which up to 100,000 units per year will initially be utilized. Further capacity utilization can be ramped up in line with further sales growth.

A new R&D center will be established, which will mainly focus on vehicle testing and adaptation as well as R&D activities with suppliers.

These investments are part of the overall investment program, according to which Daimler and its partners will invest a total of about 3 billion euros in China in the next few years.

Especially in China, there is an enormous growth potential in the premium compact segment. While in 2010 some 770,000 Chinese customers decided to buy a vehicle of that segment, the company expects this market to grow to more than 2 million units annually by 2020. This would boost China’s share of global premium compact sales to more than 20 percent from the current 12 percent and make it the largest market for premium compacts worldwide.

“We laid the foundation of our success in the premium compact segment in China when we successfully introduced the current B-Class to the market. Responding to the immense growth of demand, we lately also brought the current A-Class to China. Together with the C-Class, the GLK, and the smart, the A-Class and the B-Class constitute the ‘Young Mercedes’ product family in China, which today accounts for about 40 percent of our sales,” adds Ulrich Walker. “With these projects now agreed upon — especially those related to our passenger cars business — we are forging ahead with our clear strategy for profitable growth.”
Says Xu Heyi, Chairman BAIC: “BAIC and Daimler are long-term strategic partners. These projects are important steps of the two partners to expand local production in China, and will become a benchmark of Sino-German economic cooperation.”

About Daimler Northeast Asia
Daimler Northeast Asia, located in Beijing, includes Mercedes-Benz (China) Ltd, Mercedes-Benz Auto Finance Ltd, Daimler Northeast Asia Parts Trading & Services Co., Ltd., the Joint Ventures Beijing Benz Automotive Co., Ltd. (BBAC), Fujian Daimler Automotive (FJDA), Shenzhen BYD Daimler New Technology Co. Ltd., as well as sales organizations in Hong Kong, Korea, and Taiwan.

Local production of Mercedes-Benz passenger cars began in 2006 at the 50/50 joint venture BBAC with the predecessor of the current E-Class. In spring 2008, the C-Class joined local production as the second model. Since May 2010, BBAC is producing the current E-Class as a long-wheelbase version especially customized to meet the requirements of the Chinese market.

On the sales side, Mercedes-Benz passenger cars are represented in China with the full product portfolio. In 2010, more than 148,000 vehicles were sold, surpassing 2009 sales by 112 percent. From January through May 2011, 75,896 vehicles sold — an increase of 62 percent compared to the corresponding period in 2010. The sales network included more than 160 dealerships in about 80 cities and will grow by more than 30 new dealerships in 2011. The brand is thus continuing to strengthen its presence — also outside of tier-1 metropolitan areas.

Other activities in China include the joint venture Fujian Daimler Automotive Ltd., which started production of Mercedes-Benz vans in April 2010. Also in 2010, Daimler expanded its industrial activities with the signing of a joint venture agreement with the Chinese truck manufacturer Foton Motor to produce medium and heavy-duty trucks. Since 2009, Daimler Financial Services has offered vehicle leasing through Mercedes-Benz Auto Finance China. In addition, Daimler and BYD maintain the joint venture Shenzhen BYD Daimler New Technology Co. Ltd for the development of an electric vehicle for the Chinese market. The joint venture was officially approved in March 2011.

Source: Daimler AG

The final total of 94,17 per cent also includes the 1,52 per cent of the share capital (two million shares) that were acquired by the joint venture on the stock market during the earlier acceptance period. The high acceptance rate puts the companies in an excellent position to pursue its joint business objectives.

Bodo Uebber, Chief Financial Officer of Daimler, said: “We are very pleased with the final acceptance rate, which clearly underlines how successful we have been with our approach towards all stakeholder of Tognum, including its shareholders and employees. We will now focus on jointly further developing the business. We see great potential in this global market worth more than €30 billion a year and are dedicated to the joint venture’s future success.”

Andrew Shilston, Finance Director of Rolls-Royce added: “By combining the strengths, technology and market access of Daimler, Rolls-Royce and Tognum, the joint venture will establish a leading industrial engine systems and solutions company, offering a broad portfolio of products, services and integrated solutions on a worldwide basis.”

The transaction is fully supported by the Supervisory and Management Boards of Tognum AG whose members have tendered their shares. Daimler and Rolls-Royce intend to maintain the current manufacturing sites and are confident that the growth strategy will secure jobs and lead to further opportunities.

The regulatory filing and approval process to satisfy the conditions laid out in the Offer Document is ongoing. The cash settlement of the transaction is expected for the third quarter after having received all relevant approvals.

Source: Daimler AG / Picture: Tognum

Reiner, who will also become Chairman of Mercedes-Benz Bank AG, was previously a member of the Daimler Financial Services Board of Management with responsibility for the Americas region. As part of the executive reorganization, the former Chairman of Mercedes-Benz Bank, Peter Zieringer, 43, will be appointed as a member of the Board of Management of Daimler Financial Services and succeed Franz Reiner as the responsible board member for the Americas region, as well as CEO and President of the business operations of Mercedes-Benz Financial Services in the U.S., all effective August 1, 2011.

Alwin Epple joined the Daimler Group 21 years ago and has served in various management positions in different markets and regions throughout his career. He has been at Daimler Financial Services for 16 years. Epple’s career at DFS began in Singapore, where he played a major role in setting up business operations for the Asia-Pacific region. In 2000 Epple was named Managing Director of Daimler Financial Services in the UK.

In 2003 he was appointed a member of the Board of Management of Daimler Financial Services with responsibility for the regions Europe and Africa & Asia/Pacific, as well as the insurance business. Among other things, Epple managed the successful launch of the financial services business in China and was also responsible for the increase in profitability that was achieved in the Europe region. As President of Mercedes-Benz Italy, Epple will now be responsible for the third-largest European sales company in the Daimler Group, with a sales volume of approximately 90,000 units.

Franz Reiner began his career at Daimler 18 years ago as a member of the Management Associate Program at Mercedes-Benz Bank, whose sales operations he took over in 2000. In 2003 he was appointed to the bank’s Board of Management. In this capacity he played a major role in the successful expansion of Mercedes-Benz Bank to become a supplier of a full range of banking services and one of the leading financial services providers in the German automotive industry. Reiner transferred to Canada in 2005, taking over responsibility for the financial services business in that country. In 2009 he was appointed President and CEO of Mercedes-Benz Financial Services in the U.S. and board member of Daimler Financial Services with responsibility for the region Americas.

Peter Zieringer began his professional career in 1993 as a trainee at Daimler-Benz AG in Stuttgart. In 1995 Zieringer moved to Singapore, where he held various positions and helped set up the company’s financial services business in the region. He took over the management of Daimler Financial Services’ operations in France in 2001, and later succeeded in substantially increasing the profitability of the French company. Zieringer was named Chairman of the Board of Management of Mercedes-Benz Bank AG in 2005. His responsibilities in that position included managing the significant expansion of the deposit banking business and the further internationalization of Mercedes-Benz Bank, among other things through the creation of dealership financing offices in Spain and the UK. Zieringer also laid the groundwork for the strategic reorganization of Mercedes-Benz Bank, which included the concentration of operations at three central locations in Germany.

“I’d like to congratulate Alwin Epple, Franz Reiner, and Peter Zieringer on their appointments, and I wish them much success in their new positions,” says Daimler Financial Services Chairman Klaus Entenmann. “All three have contributed to the success of our financial services division through their many years of outstanding work.”

Source: Mercedes-Benz Bank