The Best or Nothing! - From Cars to the Golf Greens

(LtoR: Gary Savage, Marcel Siem, Mohammed Juma Buamaim, Anders Sundt Jensen and Michael Tate)

From this year Mercedes-Benz will become patron of The Open Championship, a tournament with roots dating back to 1860. As a result of this move, Mercedes-Benz is now represented at three of the four major golf tournaments as the exclusive automotive partner. “Our global golf strategy is based on the Mercedes-Benz principle of "The best or nothing". The Open Championship complements this strategy, and therefore Mercedes-Benz, perfectly”, explained Anders Sundt Jensen, Vice President Brand Communications, Mercedes-Benz Cars. “We want to make use of this major golf tournament in particular for our various marketing activities as well as customer care measures. In addition, we will also link the MercedesTrophy, a worldwide premium amateur series, with The Open Championship, for example the programme "Drive to the Major", a global competition to win the opportunity to qualify to play at the Monday Foursome.”

(L-R: Marcel Siem, Gary Savage, Anders Sundt Jensen and Michael Tate in Dubai)

Mercedes-Benz has been involved in the professional sport of golf since the 1980's. From 1990, it also took over as title sponsor of the Mercedes German Masters, the first professional golf tournament in Germany featuring international participation. In addition, the premium brand from Stuttgart was also title sponsor of the Mercedes-Benz Championship in Cologne from 2007 to 2009 and Hawaii from 1999 to 2009.

(L-R: Michael Tate, Anders Sundt Jensen and Gary Savage)

Since 2008, Mercedes-Benz has been the exclusive automobile partner of another of golf's most prestigious tournaments, The Masters in Augusta. Thanks to the connection which has existed with the PGA of America since 2010, the brand with the star is also represented at the PGA Championship and the Senior PGA Championship, as well as the 2012 Ryder Cup. This year Mercedes-Benz's commitment to golf will increase with the addition of the partnership with The Open Championship. Furthermore, Mercedes-Benz also supports a variety of both professional and amateur tournaments around the world at national level.

(The new SLK with the claret jug)

In amateur golf, Mercedes-Benz is represented with the MercedesTrophy, the company's own global premium tournament series for amateurs, which in 2011 is taking place for the 22nd time. More than 58,000 players, in more than 43 countries, tee off each year in the MercedesTrophy. The aim of the participants is to reach the MercedesTrophy World Final at the end of September, at which the best individual players and the best team are honoured in Stuttgart, the "birthplace of the motor car", and at the same time receive an exclusive insight into the world of Mercedes-Benz.

Celebrating 125 Years of Innovation

The 1886 Benz patent motor car: the world’s first car.

If truth be told, before this date there had already been “auto-mobiles” powered by steam or electricity. But not only did Carl Benz hit upon the brilliant idea of using an internal combustion engine as the drive system for a “self-mover”; he was also the first to have the tenacity to secure success for the invention. On 29 January 1886 he presented his stroke of genius at the Imperial Patent Office – the car was born. His single-cylinder 4-stroke engine with a displacement of 0.954 of a litre anticipated elements still found in every internal combustion engine to this day: a crankshaft with balance weights, electric ignition and water cooling: enough to generate 0.55 kW and a top speed of 16 km/h, virtually corresponding to the power of a whole horse. Snorting loudly and hissing terrifyingly, the newfangled motor car must have seemed like the work of the devil to some back then.

Anyone brave enough to try out Benz’s invention was a true pioneer, for there was no road network, there were no workshops, and they had to forge their own replacement parts. Nevertheless, no less than 25 production-version units of the patent motor car were sold. Daimler built his “motorised carriage” that same year.
Benz initially had a slight edge over Daimler, but then Daimler-Motoren-Gesellschaft designed a car that was a model for the industry, going down in history as a “Mercedes”.

So, to celebrate the 125th anniversary of such an epic event in History, we're going to take a drive down memory lane with the 'Back to the Future' contest.

Dedicated to the Mercedes-Benz enthusiast, the 'Back to the Future' contest is all about our 125 years of innovation. So, if you think you know all there is to know about your favorite automobile brand, why not test your knowledge against other fans across the country? Then, if you can beat out the best of the best, you can travel back in time, with Mercedes-Benz as your guide. The lucky winner will have the chance to visit the Mercedes-Benz Museum in Stuttgart, Germany, where they can experience for themselves the magic of years gone by and the fascination of future wrapped by.

For the automobile fanatic, this is a dream opportunity & definitely not one to be passed up so easily. So, if you think you have what it takes, just head on over to your nearest Mercedes-Benz India dealership or connect with us on our official Facebook page. Answer all the questions correctly & you will be in the running for the adventure of a lifetime.

125 years down the line & we're still just as committed to bringing you the latest & best in innovative automobile technology. And, with your continued support & friendship, we promise to bring you 125 more!

Mercedes-Benz rolls out 30,000th locally assembled car in India

Mercedes-Benz rolls out 30,000th locally assembled car in India

• E-Class is the 30,000th car to roll out of the Mercedes-Benz plant. This best-selling model range h as already sold close to 14,000 units in India since introduction in 1996
• Mercedes-Benz announces start of second shift in its production facility with immediate effect. “Within only two years since start of our new facility we have already exceeded first shift capacity. Due to high demand of our vehicles we are now moving into permanent two shift operation” explained Dr. Wilfried Aulbur, Managing Director & CEO, Mercedes-Benz India
• Mercedes recorded year-on-year growth of 86% in Jan-Nov 2010. Considering aggressive growth, the company has decided to set-up its own technologically advanced paint shop capable of water based painting going forward. The paint shop is targeted to be operational by the second half of 2012 with an annual capacity of 20,000 units (which can be extended up to 40,000 units annually). This paint shop carries substantial investment, taking Mercedes Benz’s total investment in Chakan plant to more than Rs 600 crores

Pune – The 30,000th locally produced Mercedes-Benz today rolled out of the Mercedes Benz India assembly plant. The Managing Director and CEO of the company, Dr. Wilfried Aulbur ceremonially crowned the Mercedes-Benz logo on the shimmering black E350CDI Avantgarde in presence of the leadership team of the company at their manufacturing facility in Chakan, Pune.

From left to right: Mr. Puneet Chug (GM - Network Development), Mr. Srinivas Chilukuri (GM - Bus Sales, Mercedes Buses), Mr. Manas Dewan (GM - Strategy, Communications, Product Management), Mr. Suhas Kadlaskar (Director, Corporate Affairs, IT & Human Resources) along with Dr. Wilfried Aulbur Managing Director and CEO of Mercedes-Benz India. 

 

Mercedes had reached the mark of 20,000th locally produced car in 2008, 13 years after start of operations in India. However the landmark of 30,000 was achieved within a short span of less than 3 years. It is indicative not just of the explosive growth of this segment but also of the company’s growth. “Take 2010 as an example. The luxury car market grew by approximately 65% in Jan-Nov 2010 while Mercedes-Benz India grew faster than the market at 86% in the same period” elaborated Dr. Aulbur.

Mercedes-Benz’s strategy for the Indian market have been focused upon offering a comprehensive product portfolio, delivering the highest value to the customer as well as ensuring world class sales, after sales and vehicle ownership experience. These initiatives coupled with aggressive product launches and network enhancement to smaller towns and cities have reinforced the strong traction with Indian market in 2010. This is also reflected in the growth of the company. “Our plant is regarded among the best CKD plants of Mercedes, globally. Within two years of moving into the new facility we have already fulfilled our first shift capacity. Start of our second shift will cater to the increased market demand as we foresee in the years to come.” commented Dr. Aulbur.

Envisaging continued strong growth, Mercedes-Benz is gearing itself to harness the additional growth opportunities. “We plan to indigenize more and more products in India, focus upon local sourcing and optimize local value addition. We have decided to increase the portfolio of locally produced cars beyond the S-, E- and C- Class range starting 2013” commented Suhas Kadlaskar, Director Corporate Affairs and Human Resources.

With state of the art manufacturing facility and start of second shift catering to the demand from this burgeoning market, Mercedes-Benz decided that time was right for it to establish its own paint-shop in its facility at Chakan. Piyush Arora, Director-Technical, elaborates: “The rapidly growing market makes it a strong case for our own paint-shop. We have taken the decision to invest in a state-of-the-art technologically advanced paint-shop, capable of environment friendly water based painting going forward. This facility, set-up with a substantial investment will be ready by the second half of 2012 with the capability to paint all models from the Mercedes cars range.”