The Future Production Strategy at Mercedes-Benz as the Firm Shifts to Total Electrification

Production of the EQS electric sedan has started at Factory 56 at the Mercedes-Benz plant in Sindelfingen – flexible, digital, efficient and sustainable.

Jörg Burzer, Member of the Board of Management of Mercedes-Benz Group AG, Production and Supply Chain: "Following the successful launches of Mercedes-EQ models in recent months, we are taking the next step: To outline the plan for our future production setup. Together with the employee representatives, we are consistently implementing the Mercedes-Benz strategy towards 'electric only'. The global Mercedes Benz production network is sustainable, digital and flexible. We are ready for the rapid scaling of electric vehicle volumes - not least thanks to our highly qualified and motivated team worldwide. With the new production setup we are further increasing our flexibility and efficiency and securing the future of our locations.”

The Mercedes-Benz plants in Sindelfingen, Bremen, Rastatt and Kecskemét will start production of new models in the Top End Luxury, Core Luxury and Entry Luxury segments from the middle of the decade.

The Mercedes-Benz Sindelfingen site is the lead plant for the Top End Luxury segment and will produce models based on the electric AMG.EA platform from 2025. The Mercedes-Benz plants in Bremen, Germany and Kecskemét, Hungary to manufacture vehicles in Europe based on the electric MB.EA platform. Rastatt and Kecskemét will also produce the repositioned models based on the MMA platform from 2024 onwards. As part of implementing the Mercedes-Benz 2022-2026 Business Plan, the company is investing more than two billion euros into its European production sites. This step marks a new phase of introducing next-generation electric platforms in production, securing future employment at European locations. The new production plan is the outcome of constructive discussions with German employee representatives, resulting in far-reaching measures to further increase flexibility and efficiency.

Ergun Lümali, Dep. Chairman of the Supervisory Board and Chairman of the Works Council of Mercedes-Benz Group AG: “It is our job to ensure that the shift towards ‘electric only’ is fair. With today’s decision on the production setup we are ensuring that this remains the case. It’s good news for the company, the locations and most of all, for our employees. As employee representatives we demanded German production sites continue to play a significant role. The introduction of new technologies to our production sites is the key to becoming future proof and to ensuring continued employment. With investments into the new production setup we have ensured that vehicles with new electric architectures are built at our locations, helping to secure production capacity. This gives our colleagues, who have for decades worked for the three-pointed star, security and a new opportunity. We demand that the same should happen for our Powertrain-locations. The works council will continue to work towards this goal.”

Sabine Kohleisen, Member of the Board of Management of Mercedes-Benz Group AG, Human Resources and Labor Director: “The shift toward an electric and digital future is a big challenge and at the same time an opportunity. What is clear is that our production portfolio is undergoing a transformation, and with it our tasks and employment profiles. Today we have once again shown that we, together with the works council, have reached viable and forward looking solutions for our production sites, our company and its employees. I am delighted that we are able to offer our colleagues new opportunities in future.”

The production portfolio already includes six all-electric Mercedes-EQ models. These roll off the production line at six locations on three continents and have been consistently integrated into ongoing series production. Thanks to early investments into flexible production and the use of the state-of-the-art MO360 digital production system, Mercedes-Benz is already able to produce battery-electric vehicles in large volumes. The batteries for the Mercedes-EQ electric vehicles are supplied by the global battery production network with factories on three continents. Local battery production is a key success factor for Mercedes-Benz's electric offensive. Mercedes-Benz has been producing CO2-neutral in all of its own plants worldwide since this year and has also been purchasing electricity in Germany that comes exclusively from renewable sources (CO2-free) since this year.

Mercedes-Benz vehicle plants consistently implement electric production 

Thanks to highly flexible structures, the plants of Mercedes-Benz AG can produce vehicles with different drivetrains on a single production line. With the strategic goal of shifting to all electric, the high degree of flexibility is a decisive advantage. It makes it possible to adjust production at short notice according to market demand. 

Sindelfingen
Production of the all-electric EQS luxury sedan started last year at Factory 56 at the Mercedes-Benz plant in Sindelfingen. In Factory 56, the S-Class, the Mercedes-Maybach S-Class and the EQS are produced completely flexibly on the same line. The Factory 56 embodies the future of production at Mercedes-Benz and sets new standards in automotive engineering. (More information: https://group-media.mercedes-benz.com/marsMediaSite/ko/en/47202542) The Sindelfingen plant is also responsible for the production of the Mercedes-Benz E-Class with Sedan, Estate and All-Terrain off-road variants, CLS as well as the Mercedes-AMG GT family and will soon be adding the GLC to its portfolio. Sindelfingen is the lead plant in the Top End Luxury segment and will produce models based on the AMG.EA platform from 2025.

Bremen
The Mercedes-Benz plant in Bremen started production of the all-electric EQE a few months ago. Already in May 2019, the EQC (combined power consumption: 21.5 kWh/100 km; CO₂ emissions combined: 0 g/km)[1] was integrated into ongoing series production at the Mercedes-Benz plant in northern Germany. In addition to the two all-electric models, the C-Class with Sedan, Estate, Coupe and Cabriolet, the E-Class with Coupe and Cabriolet, the GLC as well as the GLC Coupe and the AMG SL roll off the production line in Bremen. From the middle of the decade, a model based on the MB.EA platform will be integrated into production.

Rastatt
The Mercedes-Benz Rastatt plant has been producing the all-electric EQAcompact model since 2021. The plant is also responsible for the production of the compact vehicles A-Class, B-Class and GLA with combustion engine and plug-in hybrid. From 2024, new models based on the MMA platform are to roll off the production line at the plant. In the Entry Luxury segment, Mercedes-Benz will reduce the number of model variants from seven to four while significantly elevating the technological substance of these products. These changes help to reposition Mercedes-Benz in this segment to meet the wishes of discerning customers.

Kecskemét
The EQB compact SUV was launched at the Mercedes-Benz Kecskemét plant in 2021 and is the first purely electrically powered series production vehicle from Hungary. The model complements the portfolio consisting of CLA Coupe and CLA Shooting Brake as well as the A-Class with its conventional, plug-in hybrid and AMG versions. From 2024, new models based on the MMA platform as well as a model based on the MB.EA platform in Kecskemét roll off the production line.

Beijing
Beijing Benz Automotive Co. Ltd. (BBAC) has been producing Mercedes-Benz vehicles locally for the Chinese market since 2005. A few weeks ago, production of the all-electric EQE business sedan started at the Shunyi plant. The Mercedes-EQ production portfolio of the joint venture consists of four models: Production of the EQC started in 2019. Since 2021, the EQA and EQB have been produced locally. The C-Class (long version), E-Class (long version), A-Class (long version), GLA, GLB, GLC (long version) and the AMG A 35 L are also produced locally within the joint venture.

Tuscaloosa
The Mercedes-Benz plant in Tuscaloosa, USA, will soon start production of the EQS SUV, with the EQE SUV to follow later this year. Both models are produced on the same line together with the SUVs with conventional drive. The GLE, GLE Coupe, GLS and Mercedes-Maybach GLS roll off the assembly line in Tuscaloosa today.

Global battery production network: key success factor for the Mercedes-EQ electric ramp-up

The batteries for the Mercedes-EQ electric vehicles are supplied by a global battery production network comprising factories on three continents. The local production of battery systems is a key success factor for the Mercedes-Benz electric ramp-up and a decisive component in being able to meet the global demand for electric vehicles flexibly and efficiently.

Accumotive has been producing battery systems for hybrids and electric vehicles in Kamenz, Germany, since 2012. A second battery factory at the site commenced operations in 2018 and has been producing the battery systems for the EQC since 2019 followed by the batteries for the compact electric SUVs since 2021. Since Accumotive began production, more than one million batteries based on lithium-ion technology have been produced at the Kamenz site.

Beijing Benz Automotive Co. Ltd. (BBAC) has established a local battery production facility at the existing site in the Yizhuang Industrial Park in Beijing, China. It supplies the vehicle plants, which produce for the local market. Production of battery systems for the EQC started there in 2019. Production of battery systems for the EQE started this year.

Also in 2019, Mercedes-Benz opened a battery production plant in Bangkok, Thailand, together with its local partner Thonburi Automotive Assembly Plant (TAAP). Battery systems for plug-in hybrids and all-electric vehicles are manufactured there.

The Mercedes-Benz battery factory in Jawor, Poland, has been producing plug-in hybrid batteries for the C-, E- and S-Class since 2020. In 2021, the site expanded its portfolio to include battery systems for the compact Mercedes EQA and EQB models.

Two factories as parts of the Untertürkheim site in Stuttgart, Germany, produce battery systems. The Hedelfingen plant has been producing batteries for the EQS and EQE since 2021. A few weeks ago, the production of plug-in hybrid batteries started in the Brühl plant, which will be used in the new GLC, among other things.

The new battery factory in Bibb County near the Mercedes-Benz vehicle plant in Tuscaloosa, Alabama (USA) started operations this year, producing highly efficient battery systems for the all-electric EQS SUV and EQE SUV later this year.

The Mercedes-Benz battery production network will also be supplemented by another battery factory at the Sindelfingen site.

Electric drive systems in the global production network

Mercedes-Benz will deepen the level of vertical integration in manufacturing and development, and insource electric drive technology. The next generation of electric drive systems are being developed in house. The manufacturing and assembly of parts of the electric drive systems for future models of the Mercedes-EQ brand will start at the end of 2024 at the Untertürkheim plant.

Another important step is the acquisition of UK based electric motor company YASA. With this deal, Mercedes-Benz gains access to unique axial flux motor technology and expertise to develop next generation ultra-high performance motors. The Mercedes-Benz Berlin plant will expand its production portfolio with the manufacture and assembly of these ultra-high-performance axial flow electric motors in the future.

Sustainability in production

Compared to 2020, Mercedes-Benz is pursuing the goal of at least halving CO₂ emissions per passenger car over the entire life cycle by the end of this decade. The most important levers for this are the electrification of the vehicle fleet, charging with green electricity, the improvement of battery technology and the comprehensive use of recycled materials including batteries and renewable energies in production.

Mercedes-Benz has been producing CO2-neutral in all of its own plants worldwide since this year and has also been purchasing electricity in Germany that comes exclusively from renewable sources (CO2-free) since this year. A green electricity supply contract ensures the purchase of electricity from renewable energies at all times. In addition, the company aims to increase the production of renewable energy at its sites. Solar plants with a capacity of more than 11 MWp are to go into operation by the end of next year. By 2025, Mercedes-Benz will invest a three-digit million sum in the installation of photovoltaic systems. Mercedes-Benz is also planning to invest in new power purchase agreements for wind turbines worth 1 billion euros by the middle of the decade.

By 2030, it is planned to cover more than 70 percent of the energy demand in production from renewable energy sources - 15 percent is to be generated by renewable energy at the company's own locations. This is to be achieved by expanding solar and wind energy at its own locations and by concluding further corresponding power purchase agreements. Mercedes-Benz is also pursuing the goal of reducing water consumption by 35% by 2030.

In the next step, Mercedes-Benz also wants to make logistics CO2-neutral. The rail transport of vehicles and components such as batteries play an important role here.

Mercedes-Benz at Le Mans Classic 2022 June 30-July 3

Mercedes-Benz 300 SL racing sports car (W 194). Start of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, 14/15 June 1952. In the middle, the eventual winners Hermann Lang / Fritz Riess (starting number 21); in front, the eventual runners-up Theo Helfrich / Helmut Niedermayr (starting number 20). Karl Kling / Hans Klenk (rear, starting number 22) dropped out of the race. (Photo index number in the Mercedes-Benz Classic Archive: 55461)

 

The brand’s motor racing successes in France since 1894: this is the theme of Mercedes-Benz Classic’s extensive presence at the Le Mans Classic 2022. The event will take place from 30 June to 3 July 2022 on the original site of the “24 Hours of Le Mans” and will celebrate the history of this most famous endurance race in the world. With more than twenty vehicles from all eras of the brand’s history, former racing drivers and numerous other attractions, Mercedes-Benz Classic is offering visitors a varied programme. One focus is on “70 Years of the SL” – with the double victory at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1952 as an important milestone both in the history of the legendary sports car and in the motorsport history of the brand. Mercedes-Benz is the Official Sponsor of the Le Mans Classic.

The tenth edition of the Le Mans Classic, launched in 2002 by Peter Auto and organised in collaboration with the Automobile Club de l’Ouest, offers an impressive review of the 24 Hours of Le Mans. With 800 racing cars on the track, 8,500 historic cars on display and numerous club presentations, it is one of the largest classic events in the world. The competitions will take place in line-ups arranged by era, and of course also continue through the night – in other words, with a real long-distance spirit. Part of the attraction for participants and visitors alike is the dress code: “sporty chic” from all eras is desired and gives the Le Mans Classic a casual elegance in addition to the motorsport flair. With each edition, the event has attracted more fans. Most recently, around 195,000 visitors came in 2018.

Double victory at Le Mans some 70 years ago

Some 70 years ago, Mercedes-Benz achieved an outstanding triumph at the 24 Hours of Le Mans: a double victory. On 15 June 1952, two 300 SL racing sports cars (W 194) crossed the finish line one after the other. This and other double, triple and quadruple victories put the first SL directly in the limelight in the 1952 season and at the same time positioned the brand back on the stage of international motorsport after the Second World War. This initial spark gave rise to the production version, the 300 SL “Gullwing” (W 198), just two years later. The fascination with the SL has remained unbroken ever since and has continued to develop successfully over seven decades. Today, the new Mercedes-AMG SL (R 232), developed entirely by AMG, transports the genes of the SL legend into the future.

At Le Mans, Mercedes-Benz Classic will celebrate the SL history with numerous vehicles, from the original W 194 dating from 1952 to the latest generation, the Mercedes-AMG SL (R 232) presented in 2021. Other early SL models will complete the presentation: the 300 SL “Gullwing”, 300 SL Roadster and the 300 SLS motorsport version (all W 198). In addition, media representatives will have access to a driving pool of SLs from all eras plus additional vehicles to mark the anniversaries of “50 years of the S-Class 116 series” and the “40 years of the Mercedes-Benz W 201”, which can be driven on routes outside the event grounds.

A highlight at the Mercedes-Benz Classic stand right next to a current Mercedes-AMG SL 63 4MATIC+ (total fuel consumption (WLTP) (combined): 13.0–12.5 l/100 km; total CO2 emissions (WLTP (combined): 294-282 g/km) will be a 300 SL Roadster (W 198) dating from 1960. The vehicle comes from the Mercedes-Benz Classic sales offer. It has undergone a factory restoration and is in top condition. The Roadster is finished in the rare colour combination of Mercedes blue with red leather and a light grey soft top, while the hardtop is painted in the body colour.

Original vehicles in action and on display

Among other things, the 300 SL racing sports car will once again be in action on the race track at Le Mans Classic. The silver Coupé will put in an appearance at the Mercedes-Benz Classic stand to round off the presentation of other original vehicles and exhibits relating to the brand’s motorsport successes in France. Highlights of the motorsport history in France include:

• Daimler two-cylinder engine, 1894. The first automobile competition in history in July 1894 from Paris to Rouen was won by vehicles with this engine, manufactured under licence by Panhard & Levassor.

• Mercedes-Simplex 40 hp, 1902. In the years 1901 to 1903, Mercedes dominated with this model, among others, in the “Weeks of Nice” with high-profile motorsport competitions.

• Mercedes Grand Prix racing car, 1914. In the 750-kilometre race for the 1914 French Grand Prix in Lyon, Christian Lautenschlager, Louis Wagner and Otto Salzer achieved a triumphant triple victory in cars of this model.

• Mercedes-Benz 300 SL racing sports car (W 194). At the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1952, Hermann Lang / Fritz Riess and Theo Helfrich / Helmut Niedermayr achieved a double victory for the brand in this model.

• Mercedes-Benz Formula One racing car W 196 R with streamlined body. It was in this Silver Arrow that Mercedes-Benz returned to Grand Prix racing in 1954 after an interruption of 15 years. In the car’s very first race on 4 July 1954 in Rheims, Juan Manuel Fangio and Karl Kling posted a spectacular one-two finish. Following three more victories, Fangio finished the season as Formula One World Champion.

• Mercedes-Benz 190 E 2.3-16 (W 201) “Supertourisme”. From 1985 to 1987, Snobeck Racing Service (SRS) entered the sixteen-valve model in the French Touring Car Championship. These entries also paved the way for Mercedes-Benz to return to motorsport. From 1988, SRS also competed in the DTM as a development team with the 190 E 2.3-16.

• Sauber-Mercedes C 9 Group C racing sports car. On 11 June 1989, this Silver Arrow took a one-two in the 24 Hours of Le Mans (Stanley Dickens / Jochen Mass / Manuel Reuter; Kenny Acheson / Mauro Baldi / Gianfranco Brancatelli). Another vehicle came in fifth place. At the end of the season, Jean-Louis Schlesser won the drivers’ title in the World Sports Car Championship in the C 9.

• McLaren-Mercedes MP4-15. Driving the MP4-15 designed for the 2000 Formula One season, Mika Häkkinen won four races out of 17 Grands Prix. David Coulthard achieved three victories, including the French Grand Prix at the Circuit Nevers Magny-Cours – a one-two victory with Mika Häkkinen.

• Mercedes-AMG F1 W09 EQ Power+ Formula One racing car, 2018. This car led the Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One Team to its fifth double triumph in a row. Lewis Hamilton drove to his fifth drivers’ world championship, and the team secured the constructors’ world championship once again. Lewis Hamilton won the French Grand Prix in June 2018 in the F1 W09 EQ Power+.

Racing driver interviews and engine start-ups

The brand’s varied programme in terms of vehicle presentations includes interviews with former racing drivers Ellen Lohr, Klaus Ludwig, Jochen Mass, Kurt Thiim and Karl Wendlinger. What were their biggest successes for the brand? In which vehicles? How did they experience Mercedes-Benz in their time? These, among others, are the questions that they will face. Those wishing to delve deeper into the motorsport history of Mercedes-Benz in France can take part in stand tours around the vehicles. Three racing cars from three eras will be allowed to sound out there regularly: the engines of the Mercedes-Simplex 40 hp, Mercedes-Benz 300 SL racing sports car and Sauber-Mercedes C 9 will be regularly started for demonstration purposes. A “Pitstop Challenge” with a timed wheel change on an original DTM vehicle, as well as racing simulators, will round off the programme at the Mercedes-Benz Classic stand. And those wanting to look out onto the race track from there will find space in the deckchairs with a view of the action on the circuit.

Mercedes-Benz at Goodwood: The AMG ONE Hypercar

The cutting-edge Mercedes-AMG ONE hypercar with E PERFORMANCE hybrid drive (fuel consumption weighted, combined: 8.7 l/100 km; combined weighted CO2 emissions: 198 g/km; combined weighted electrical consumption: 32 kWh/100 km)[1] makes its dynamic public debut at the Goodwood Festival of Speed as part of an incredible 55 years of AMG celebration. Joined by the ultimate in performance luxury from AMG, including the new AMG GT Track Series and GT 63 S E PERFORMANCE (fuel consumption weighted, combined WLTP: 7.9 l/100 km; CO2 emissions weighted, combined WLTP: 180 g/km; power consumption weighted, combined WLTP: 12.0 kWh/100 km)[2], the AMG ONE will be seen in action for the first time as it makes its way up the iconic Goodwood hill climb. With the extraordinary Vision AMG design study, Mercedes-AMG offers a glimpse of the all-electric future of Driving Performance. Also making the trip up the famous hill will be the VISION EQXX. [1] The figures for fuel consumption and CO2 emissions are provisional and were determined internally in accordance with the "WLTP test procedure" certification method. Confirmed values from the technical service or an EC type approval or certificate of conformity with official values are not yet available. Differences between the stated figures and the official figures are possible.

Goodwood.  The cutting-edge Mercedes-AMG ONE hypercar with E PERFORMANCE hybrid drive (fuel consumption weighted, combined: 8.7 l/100 km; combined weighted CO2 emissions: 198 g/km; combined weighted electrical consumption: 32 kWh/100 km)[1] makes its dynamic public debut at the Goodwood Festival of Speed as part of an incredible 55 years of AMG celebration. Joined by the ultimate in performance luxury from AMG, including the new AMG GT Track Series and GT 63 S E PERFORMANCE (fuel consumption weighted, combined WLTP: 7.9 l/100 km; CO2 emissions weighted, combined WLTP: 180 g/km; power consumption weighted, combined WLTP: 12.0 kWh/100 km)[2], the AMG ONE will be seen in action for the first time as it makes its way up the iconic Goodwood hill climb. With the extraordinary Vision AMG design study, Mercedes-AMG offers a glimpse of the all-electric future of Driving Performance. Also making the trip up the famous hill will be the VISION EQXX. The most efficient Mercedes ever built makes its Goodwood appearance hot on the heels of a road trip of 1,202 kilometres from Stuttgart to Silverstone and Brixworth on a single battery charge – the second such trip in less than three months. These extremes of Mercedes modern-day performance and efficiency stand side-by-side at Goodwood with a roster of past sporting icons in celebration of 55 years of AMG and of Mercedes technological achievement through motorsport.

Mercedes-AMG ONE headlines 55 years of AMG

With more than 1000hp from a 1.6-litre V6 hybrid turbocharged engine, the AMG ONE will provide motorsport fans with the sound of something never before achieved in a production car; a Formula 1TM engine for the road. The immensely complex E PERFORMANCE hybrid drive of the Mercedes-AMG ONE is the result of close cooperation with the experts at Mercedes-AMG High Performance Powertrains in Brixworth. It features 1,063 hp combined output generated using one combustion engine and four electric motors, and leverages the latest in aerodynamics and carbon-fibre chassis technology. For the teams in Germany and the UK, the Goodwood Festival of Speed debut marks the conclusion of one of the toughest hypercar projects ever conceived.

The Vision AMG design study points to the future. Beneath the breath‑taking exterior design of the four-door coupé is the equally extraordinary dedicated AMG.EA platform, which is currently under development in Affalterbach for all-electric performance models. The sporty high-tech seamless design and the breathtaking proportions give the Vision AMG a futuristic character. The four-door configuration also makes clear that the show car offers a taste of a functional all‑electric sports car of the future.

The 55 years of AMG celebration at Goodwood Festival of Speed also sees two of AMG’s latest products on show at the hill climb. The GT 63 S E PERFORMANCE will give fans a glimpse into the brand’s electrified future. Capable of a purely electric hill climb run using its electric motor, the GT 63 S E PERFORMANCE uses a high-performance battery on its rear axle to deliver ‘always on’ hybrid power to its 843 hp, 1400 Nm V8 powertrain. The ultra-exclusive AMG GT Track Series will also be shown. The most extreme car ever to be released from the workshops of AMG’s Customer Racing division, the GT Track Series draws on AMG’s extensive GT3 and GT4 racing experience and translates that to a pure track day car.

For AMG fans, this year’s Goodwood Festival of Speed will also include a static display featuring some of the most iconic models from the performance luxury brand’s illustrious history as well as a nod to its future. A camouflaged development car of a brand-new AMG product, based entirely on the new C-Class platform with the next step of E PERFORMANCE hybrid drive, will be available to view by the public at the AMG stand.

VISION EQXX – record-breaking electric research vehicle on pilgrimage to Goodwood

Fresh from its second 1,000 km+ road trip on a single battery charge, the most efficient Mercedes ever built visits Goodwood to pay homage to its motorsports roots by taking a run up the famous hill. Before making the pilgrimage to the Festival of Speed, the all-electric VISION EQXX had travelled 1,202 kilometres from Stuttgart to the home of British motor racing in Silverstone and onwards to Brixworth, the HQ of Mercedes-AMG High Performance Powertrains.

Throughout the road trip, the VISION EQXX took advantage of its innovative thermal management system to achieve an average consumption of 8.3 kWh/100 km in the face of heavy traffic and summer temperatures. Waiting in Silverstone to greet it were the Formula 1 and Formula E experts who helped develop its advanced, highly efficient drivetrain as well as special guest driver Nyck de Vries. The Dutchman, who races for the Mercedes-EQ Formula E team, drove surely his most efficient laps ever in a road car on the track at Silverstone before the VISION EQXX set off on the final leg to Brixworth.

Developed from scratch to road-going vehicle in less than two years, the VISION EQXX achieved a world first in April when it drove 1,008 kilometres from Sindelfingen to Cassis on the French Riviera with energy consumption of 8.7 kWh/100 km and a remaining range on arrival around 140 kilometres. While efficiency features such as the slippery drag coefficient of 0.17, low-rolling-resistance tyres and solar panels on the roof may not be put to the test on the VISION EQXX’s short drive up the hill at Goodwood, these and many other of its efficiency innovations have already proven their worth twice over long distances on public roads.

Mercedes-Benz Classic at the Goodwood Festival of Speed 2022

Mercedes-Benz Classic makes it possible to experience the company’s unique brand and product history dating back to the invention of the automobile in 1886. The Goodwood Festival of Speed celebrates the entire history of automotive sportiness in a very special atmosphere. In its long history Mercedes-Benz has therein repeatedly set standards.

This year, the heritage branch of the brand is presenting outstanding vehicles that also reflect the thematic range of this exclusive event from sporty luxury to successful racing. Exemplary for the first category is a 300 SL Roadster (W 198), on display for the 70th anniversary of the SL sports cars together with the Mercedes-AMG SL of the 232 model series.

Also to be experienced at AMG is a CL 55 AMG “F1 Limited Edition” – a luxurious high-performance coupé from a particularly exclusive small series. Mercedes-Benz Classic is commemorating the brilliant motorsport successes under the sign of the star at the Festival of Speed in the “Main Paddock” with four motorsport icons: in addition to the 300 SLR racing sports car “704” (W 196 S), the brand is bringing to Goodwood a Sauber-Mercedes C9 Group C racing sports car, a DTM 190 E 2.5-16 Evolution racing touring car (W 201) and a newly recreated, especially sporty 450 SL (R 107).

With the classic cars on display Mercedes-Benz Classic underlines the importance of the company’s heritage: Being an integrative part of the brand and the group, strengthening the future by underlining its innovation‑driven origins. The Festival of Speed is a trend-setting lighthouse event that celebrates the past and the future of mobility and offers an excellent platform for exchange with this diversified scene.

[1] The figures for fuel consumption and CO2 emissions are provisional and were determined internally in accordance with the "WLTP test procedure" certification method. Confirmed values from the technical service or an EC type approval or certificate of conformity with official values are not yet available. Differences between the stated figures and the official figures are possible.
[2] The figures shown are the WLTP CO2 figures measured according to Article 2 No 3 Implementing Regulation (EU) 2017/1153. The fuel consumption figures were calculated on the basis of these figures. The electricity consumption was determined on the basis of Regulation 2017/1151/EU.

Mercedes-Benz Announces Joint Venue with ZYNC -- The Future of In-Car Digital Entertainment

The MBUX Hyperscreen

Stuttgart/San Francisco.  Mercedes-Benz Group AG has agreed to a partnership with ZYNC. The California‑based tech company will provide the world-first implementation of its premium in-car digital entertainment platform for Mercedes-Benz. By aggregating a wide range of owned and 3rd-party digital content onto a single turnkey platform, ZYNC will provide the platform as well as the interface between content partners and existing compatible Mercedes-Benz hardware. The aim of the partnership is to provide customers with a seamless digital entertainment experience tailored to the unique environment inside a Mercedes-Benz, while maximising the benefits of the company’s UI/UX technologies such as the MBUX Hyperscreen. Through ZYNC, Mercedes-Benz customers will be able to access to a wide range of renowned third-party global and local streaming services. The first application of ZYNC is planned for the end of this year in the EQS and S-Class in Europe, with rollout in further models and markets planned for 2023.

Be it news, sports, shows or films, the majority of people consume their favourite streamed content most of the time via their mobile device or television. However, the environment inside a Mercedes-Benz presents a specific array of conditions that offer the chance to provide an immersive cinematic experience of audio‑visual content that goes far beyond merely facilitating playback. Those conditions range from the size, format and position of screens and the bespoke arrangement of speakers to the type of content and the way it is navigated. By focusing exclusively on the circumstances inside the car, the ZYNC platform integrates seamlessly with Mercedes-Benz hardware as well as current and future operating systems to deliver content in a way that maximises the audio-visual sensation, engagement and ease-of-use.

ZYNC provides video streaming, on-demand content, interactive experiences, local video programming, sports, news, gaming and much more through a unified user interface. Over 30 streaming services are available from high-end global, regional and local partners, with additional partners and channels continuously integrated over the air. Most of these channels are included and do not need an individual subscription. The prerequisite for ZYNC is an active Mercedes-Benz me account with the MBUX Entertainment Package, which is currently free of charge for one year from booking and can then be extended for a fee in the Mercedes me portal (country-specific deviations possible).

“We want to offer our customers a unique entertainment experience in their vehicles. Technologically, this is only achievable through the interaction of the best hardware and software. Whether our ENERGIZING Comfort programs, the innovative MBUX Hyperscreen or Dolby Atmos – a Mercedes-Benz is unmistakable and can be experienced with multiple senses. Access to diverse video streaming offerings through ZYNC will soon take our holistic luxury promise to the next level. This underlines our claim to ‘Lead in Car Software’,” says Markus Schäfer, Member of the Board of Management of Mercedes-Benz Group AG, Chief Technology Officer, responsible for Development and Purchasing.

“Through our partnership with ZYNC, Mercedes-Benz aims to unleash the full potential of in-car entertainment via benchmark-setting hardware like the MBUX Hyperscreen by transforming it into a portal that expands the MBUX digital experience beyond the car. As well as even smoother, more direct and personalised access to owned and third-party content such as ZYNC provides, augmentation with interactive services will help us further deepen customer engagement and dialogue,” adds Magnus Östberg, Chief Software Officer, Mercedes-Benz AG.

Dedicated solution maximises benefits of advanced Mercedes-Benz hardware

The partnership with ZYNC leverages and maximises the inherent benefits of the advanced UI/UX of Mercedes-Benz infotainment systems, such as the MBUX Hyperscreen. The aggregation of content means 3rd‑party partners integrate once into the ZYNC platform. The highly scalable cloud-native platform is optimised for low latency on Mercedes-Benz vehicle hardware.

In real terms, this means customers will be able to access a constantly growing array of streaming services. The page layouts are optimised to make the best possible use of the visual quality and resolution provided by the specific infotainment systems and its screens. In line with the Mercedes-Benz’s software strategy, the ZYNC platform offers best-in-class in-vehicle video playback, including adaptive bitrates and minimal on-board caching requirements. Meanwhile, the ZYNC platform itself is compatible with multiple Digital Rights Management (DRM) formats.

Focus on safety with a view to the future of in-car entertainment

At the core of all Mercedes-Benz developments in in-car entertainment and visual content is road safety. The partnership with ZYNC is no exception. When the vehicle is in motion, streaming services are restricted, e.g. to passenger screens or audio only in accordance with local market regulations. Looking to the future, Mercedes-Benz is prepared for the use of video streaming while the car is in motion where approval exists for Level 3 conditionally automated driving.

About ZYNC:

Uniquely bridging the worlds of automotive, software and entertainment, ZYNC is a California-based company with headquarters in San Francisco and offices in Munich and Berlin, Germany. The company's mission is to take in-car entertainment to a new dimension by incorporating real-time vehicle data. ZYNC was founded in 2019 and maintains strategic partnerships with leading companies from the entertainment and automotive industries. 
ZYNC: Arrive Better. ZYNC® is a registered trademark of Zync Inc. For more information, please visit www.ZYNC.com.

Wishful Thinking: Ford Verses Mercedes Advertising Art, 1982

 

View of a Ford Granada sedan and a Mercedes Benz sedan parked in front of building. Label on sleeve: "Ford Motor Co., Ford advertising, Granada, Mercedes, 1981-82.

From the National Automotive history Collection, Detroit Public Library

Typical of The Boulevard Photographic style of advertising art, light is key to the image. The message is ridiculous, given what we know from looking back. The Granada came and went, but the 1982 Mercedes remains a fixture on the road, reflective of its inherent build quality.  

The Ford Granada (1975-1982) initially was a replacement for the Maverick. It was marketed and made in Europe as the manufacturers top-of-the-line model. One rarely sees a Granada on the road today, but Mercedes sedans often continue, sometimes lovingly cared for by their owners. 

A very Rare 1959 DeSoto

 Seen at the Kettering Cruise-In, June 11, 2022. This car got plenty of attention, an rightfully so. Only one of 33 survivors.

My Mercedes-Benz 380 Sl

 Seen at the Kettering Cruise-In on Dorothy Lane, June 11, 2022.

Lots of stories about this car. I’ll try to tell them in the days ahead. Owner for the past 8 years.

Mercedes-Benz at the 1000 Miglia of 2022 -- June 15 to 18

John Cooper Fitch and Kurt Gessl (starting number 417) achieved the class victory and 5th place overall at the 1955 Mille Miglia in a Mercedes-Benz 300 SL “Gullwing” (W 198). (Photo index number in the Mercedes-Benz Classic Archive: R7538 

Mercedes-Benz is putting the SL at the centre of the 1000 Miglia of 2022. It is celebrating an anniversary there: 70 years ago, the Mille Miglia provided the arena for the premiere of the Mercedes-Benz 300 SL racing sports car (W 194), the first competition car newly developed by the Stuttgart brand after the Second World War. This year, Mercedes-Benz and Mercedes-AMG are bringing several historic and current SL models to the latest edition of the 1000 Miglia.

The new Mercedes-AMG SL (R 232) is the latest new edition of the icon. With a classic soft top and sporty character, it fits seamlessly into the brilliant history. At the same time, the luxurious Roadster as a 2+2 seater is particularly suitable for everyday use and puts its power down on the road with all-wheel drive for the first time. The comprehensive technology equipment includes highlights such as the AMG ACTIVE RIDE CONTROL suspension with active roll stabilisation, rear axle steering, the optionally available AMG ceramic high-performance composite brake system or the standard-fit DIGITAL LIGHT with projection function. In combination with the AMG 4.0-litre V8 biturbo engine, this results in a driving experience of the highest order. As a consistent Performance Luxury model, Mercedes-AMG in Affalterbach has developed the SL completely independently.

The 1000 Miglia 2022

From 15 to 18 June 2022, around 400 vehicles will travel 1,600 kilometres through the most beautiful landscapes between Brescia and Rome. Hundreds of thousands of spectators are expected to line the route to celebrate the automobiles of the period from 1927 to 1957 – because only classic cars whose models have proven themselves in the original road race in this era are allowed to participate in the modern-day 1000 Miglia. In 2022, the rally, now called the 1000 Miglia, will be held for the 40th time.

Mercedes-Benz Classic with three 300 SL “Gullwing” models on the starting line

Mercedes-Benz is once again involved in this high-quality classic event with some attractive sports cars. Racing drivers Ellen Lohr and Karl Wendlinger are taking their places behind the wheel, as is Marcus Breitschwerdt, Head of Mercedes-Benz Heritage since January this year. They will all be competing in 300 SL “Gullwing” cars (W 198). “I have already taken part in the 1000 Miglia four times and I am very happy that I can now experience this great adventure again in my new role,” says Breitschwerdt. The native of Stuttgart also wants to engage in a close exchange with the 
Mercedes-Benz community at the top-class classic car rally. He is looking forward to discussions with fans of the brand and to input to further develop the historic core of Mercedes-Benz.

Mercedes-Benz has supported the 1000 Miglia for many years. “This special, challenging event and Mercedes-Benz as the oldest car manufacturer in the world and Automotive Heritage Partner of the 1000 Miglia complement each other perfectly,” emphasises Marcus Breitschwerdt. “Mercedes-Benz probably has the largest vehicle collection of any car manufacturer, a museum of world renown, Classic Centres in Germany and the USA, an exemplary spare parts supply and an immense number of official Brand Clubs with a total of 120,000 members worldwide.”

Record for eternity

The history of the Mille Miglia, as it was originally called, is closely linked to Mercedes-Benz. The victory of Rudolf Caracciola and Wilhelm Sebastian in 1931, who were the first non-Italian team to win the Mille Miglia in the Mercedes-Benz racing sports car type SSKL (W 06 RS), is unforgettable. In 1952, the 300 SL racing sports car (W 194) made its debut in this thousand-mile classic. The vehicle took second and fourth places at the first attempt. John Cooper Fitch and Kurt Gessl won their class at the 1955 Mille Miglia in the series production version of the 300 SL (W 198). Also in 1955, Stirling Moss and Denis Jenkinson set a benchmark in a Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR racing sports car (W 196 S) that continues to thrill many motorsport fans to this day: the British duo covered the distance in ten hours, seven minutes and 48 seconds. This is an unbroken record with an average of almost 160 km/h over the 1,000 miles on a route which is only imperfectly closed off and which also leads over difficult mountain passes.

The 1000 Miglia today

Today, the 1000 Miglia is no longer held as a race, but as a regularity event with numerous special stages – and still demands full concentration from the teams. On many sections of the route, some classics reach their performance limits. The fans on the side of the road are fascinated by the fact that they are witnesses to a race that, even without the extremes of yesteryear, has saved its exclusivity for the present. In 2022, the first section will run from Brescia via Sirmione on Lake Garda and Ferrara to Cervia-Milano Marittima on Wednesday 15 June 2022. On 16 June 2022, the stage from Cervia-Milano Marittima via San Marino and Norcia to Rome will take place. On the third day, 17 June 2022, the route heads from Rome via Siena and Viareggio to Parma. On 18 June 2022, the roadbook will take the teams back to Brescia via Monza and Bergamo.

Three 300 SL Coupé models: The cars of Mercedes-Benz Classic at the 1000 Miglia in 2022

Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Coupé (W 198)

In February 1954, the 300 SL series production sports car (W 198) celebrated its world premiere at the International Motor Sport Show in New York. The Coupé was called the “Gullwing” or the “Papillon” (butterfly) owing to its distinctive roof-mounted doors, which resembled a gull’s wings. However, they were not an aesthetic end in themselves, but actually technically necessary. This was because the tubular roll cage was so high at the sills that conventional door designs were simply not possible. The high-performance sports car was based on the legendary 300 SL racing sports car (W 194) from the 1952 season. The enhanced W 198 was the world’s first series production passenger car with a four-stroke engine and direct petrol injection. With an engine output of 158 kW(215 hp) – a good 25 per cent more than the carburettor-equipped racing version of 1952 – and a top speed of up to 250 km/h, the W 198 was among the top production sports cars of its time. This also made it predestined for sports use. One legendary triumph was the triple class victory of the 300 SL “Gullwing” in the 1955 Mille Miglia. John Cooper Fitch and his co-driver Kurt Gessl took fifth place in the overall classification in car number 417, which represented their starting time of 4.17 a.m., and led the field of series production sports cars with engines over 1.3 litres of displacement ahead of two other “Gullwings”. From 1954 to 1957, a total of 1,400 units of the 300 SL Coupé were built, 29 of them with an aluminium body.

Technical data – Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Coupé (W 198)
Cylinders: 6/inline
Displacement: 2,996 cc
Output: 158 kW (215 hp) at 5,800 rpm
Top speed: Up to 250 km/h

Mercedes-Benz Classic Brand Ambassadors at the 1000 Miglia in 2022

Ellen Lohr
Date of birth: 12 April 1965
Mercedes-Benz Band Ambassador Ellen Lohr came to motorsport via karting, in which she was active from 1979 to 1983. Her greatest successes were participating in the Junior Kart World Championship and claiming a first-place title in the North-West German Kart Championship. After competing in the German Formula Ford 1600 series (German Champion in 1987) and first races in the DTM (BMW) and the German Formula 3 Championship with VW in 1989/90, she was signed up by the AMG-Mercedes team for the German Touring Car Championship. Ellen Lohr is the first and to date only woman to claim a DTM victory, which she achieved in May 1992 at the racing festival in Hockenheim in an AMG Mercedes 190 E 2.5-16 Evolution II. For the 1995 season, she joined the Mercedes-Zakspeed team, and in 1996 drove for the AMG-Mercedes Persson MS team. In 1997, she competed in the European Truck Racing Championship at the wheel of a Mercedes-Benz racing truck. After that, Lohr remained active in numerous other racing series.

Karl Wendlinger
Date of birth: 20 December 1968
From 1990 to 1991, the Austrian was part of the Mercedes-Benz Junior Team alongside Michael Schumacher and Heinz-Harald Frentzen and competed with great success for the Sauber-Mercedes team in the World Sports Car Championship. In 1994, he also drove for the Sauber-Mercedes team in Formula One together with Heinz-Harald Frentzen. His promising career was curtailed by a serious accident at the 1994 Monte Carlo Grand Prix. Karl Wendlinger started his career in motorsport at the age of 14 in karting. In 1989, he won the German Formula 3 Championship ahead of Frentzen and Schumacher. His most important successes on the racetrack include winning the 1999 FIA GT Championship, first place at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in the GTS class, also in 1999, overall victory at the 24 Hours of Daytona in 2000 and second place at the 24 Hours of Nürburgring in 2003. From 2004 to 2011, Karl Wendlinger drove for different teams in the FIA GT Championship. Since then he has passed on his extensive knowledge as an instructor in Mercedes-AMG driving training courses and is active as a Brand Ambassador.