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Myn Transport Blog
a site about all sorts of transportation
Category: Western Star
ERF Trucks
ERF (truck manufacturer)
Sandbach, Cheshire, England 1933 – 2007
Bought/Closed
MAN AG
Edwin Richard Foden
Sandbach, Cheshire, England
ERF.com
Edwin Richard Foden was a British truck manufacturer. Established in 1933 by Dennis Foden, 1932 Edwin Richard Foden retired from Foden.
1933 The new company used the same Jennings cabs and Gardner engines as Fodens had done.
1933 The first ERF vehicle was a 6 ton type C14 which remained in production until 1946.
WWII Production of military lorries, mostly for the Royal Army Service Corps, with some vehicles for essential civilian users.
1950 Edwin died
1951 Used steel cabs by Willenhall Motor Radiator Co
1952 The oval radiator grill was introduced
1961 The LV cab was introduced. The company employed 315 persons.
1961 Manufacturers of commercial motor vehicles. 315 employees.
1967 Fire appliances were produced, a situation which continued for ten years until taken over by Jennings
1970 Changes to the A range
1973 Developed the SP cab for vehicles up to 42ton gvw
1974 The B range introduced
1996 Company bought by Western Star of Canada
After a period of recuperation he returned to the development of a diesel lorry on his own account. With the collaboration of his son Dennis, William's son Ted, and several key figures dismissed by Fodens, Edwin went on to establish a rival concern, which became ERF Ltdits factory in Sandbach, Cheshire was closed in 2002, and it was discontinued as a marque by owner MAN AG in 2007.
In 1881 the first Foden traction engine was built in Sandbach, Cheshire. Then in 1898 Edwin Richard Foden influenced future truck design by designing the first steam wagon running on steel tyre wheels which had been successful until 1913 when vulcanised solid rubber tyre development had advanced to the stage of allowing their fitment on heavy vehicles. Edwin introduced the first pneumatic-tyred Foden steam wagon, but as steam transport appeared to be going out of favour, Edwin turned his attention to the development of a 6-8 ton chassis fitted with new Gardner LW (Light Weight) high speed oil-engine.
At the beginning of the 1930s, Britain's industry was struggling to survive the worst recession in living memory and unemployment exceeded two million. At this time insurers were becoming increasingly reluctant to underwrite steam boilers. As a result, Edwin believed the future of the lorry building industry lay in Diesel engine power. The Foden boardroom did not agree, and consequently he resigned along with his son Dennis.
With the help of his son Dennis and two former colleagues, including Ernest Sherratt who became Chief Engineer, Edwin worked to build the first ERF diesel lorry in 1933 and gave the first chassis the number 63 which was Edwin's age. Fromm the beginning the company only bought in the best components available, including engines from Gardner, gearboxes from David Brown and axles from Kirkstall Forge, rather than making everything in house. This concept would serve ERF well throughout its existence. A new and striking cab was styled by Sandbach coachbuilder John Henry Jennings, who also provided initial factory space to assemble the new lorry. Based in Sandbach, Cheshire, the company made their own chassis and cabs, originally with engines from Gardner, but later also Cummins, Perkins, Detroit Diesel and Caterpillar Inc..
ERFs used to be marketed under the Western Star badge in some countries such as Australia. It also built a specialist fire engine chassis, with a body built on by in-house company JH Jennings, later Cheshire Fire Engineering. However, when recession came in the early 1980s and production fell from a total output of 4,000 chassis per annum, CFE was sold to management to eventually become Saxon Sanbec.
ERF was never a major manufacturer; as an example their domestic sales total only reached 1,083 trucks in 1981. The company was bought by Canadian truck maker Western Star in 1996. However, after PACCAR's purchase of Foden, DAF Trucks and Leyland Trucks increased competitive pressure, and Western Star was approached by Freightliner Trucks corporation, the decision was made to sell ERF.
Purchase by MAN
In 2000, ERF became part of MAN AG. Freightliner tried to sue Western Star and ERF's former auditors, but failed on the grounds of corporate negligence.
Final model range
ERF's final model range consisted of the ECT, ECM and ECL built on MAN's production line in Munich (for heavy trucks), and a plant in Sandbach for light trucks – positioned to win a contract from the Ministry of Defence for 8,000 new British Armed Forces trucks.
All the ERF trucks were based on MAN's existing products, the only difference being that the ERF model came with the option of specifying use of Cummins ISMe power plant as an alternate to MAN's own D20 common rail power-plant. The Sandbach factory was closed by MAN in 2002, with production of the ECT moved to Munich, Germany, ECM and ECL units moved to Steyr, Austria where they are built on the same facilities as their identical MAN counterparts.
In the light of Cummins' intransigence on upgrading the ISMe engine to comply with the Euro4 emission regulations, MAN initially decided to replace it completely with the new series of MAN D20 engines. With ERF badging only used for the British market, MAN decided to cease the supply of ERF badged trucks from July 2007.
In popular culture
On the BBC motoring programme Top Gear, the presenters are challenged to buy lorries and presenter Richard Hammond buys an ERF from Walker Movements Limited in Leicester. He pronounces the name phonetically. In response to a quip about its diminutive size, Hammond responds by calling it 'the Caterham of lorries' as it has an engine that could match Jeremy Clarkson's 12 litres (732.3 cu in) Renault Magnum, but as light and as small as James May's Scania P94D. It was also the fastest among the three; it has a top speed that exceeds 90 miles per hour (145 km/h).
1947 ERF (Gardner diesel)
1959 ERF type 6.4G
Front of a 1975 ERF A-series
ERF ECT unit 2005
Dai Davies, ERF: The Inside Story, 2009, 160p. 300 col. & b/w ill. h/b.
Peter Foden, 60 Years On: The Story of ERF, A British Commercial Vehicle Manufacturer, 1995, ISBN 0952213605, ISBN 978-0952213604, 96 pages
List of Models
C14 (1933- )
Model V (1948- )
ERF KV
ERF KV 6LX 1966 – grille
KV range (1954- )
LV range (1962- ) A Series (1972- )
B B Series (1974- )
C Series D Series
1950 Makes and Models of Road Vehicles
1954 Commercial Motor Show
1961 Guide to Key British Enterprises: Motor, Motor-Cycle and Commercial Vehicle Manufacturers
1993 Key British Enterprises
2007 Dorset Steam Fair
Archive Journal: Issue 64
Barton Motors
ERF: A Series
ERF: B Series
ERF: C14
ERF: C Series
ERF: D Series
ERF: E Series
ERF: KV range
ERF: LV range
ERF: Model V
Edward Hankins and Sons
Falcon Engineering Co
Heavy Transport Co
J. H. Jennings and Son
James Bowen and Sons
Parrs
The Engineer 1958 Jul-Dec: Index
The Engineer 1974/03/07
Author JeroenPosted on 22 November 2016 Categories Army, Caterpillar, Cheshire Fire Engineering, Civil, Cummins, Detroit Diesel, England, ERF, Foden, Gardner, Jennings, MAN, MAN-AG, Perkins, Trucks, UK, United Kingdom, Western StarTags England, ERF, MAN-AG, Trucks, UK, United Kingdom1 Comment on ERF Trucks
MERCEDES BENZ + DAIMLER AG
Mercedes Benz 1926 – present, Stuttgart Germany, Benz & Cie. (1883-1926)
Daimler-Motoren-Gesellschaft(1890-1926) und DAIMLER AG
Automobiles, Trucks, Buses, Internal combustion engines, Luxury vehicles
Benz & Cie. (1883-1926)
Daimler-Motoren-Gesellschaft(1890-1926)
Karl Benz and Gottlieb Daimler
Number of locations
Dieter Zetsche, Chairman
Internal combustion engines
Luxury vehicles
Mercedes-MaybachMercedes-brabus
The Best or Nothing
www.mercedes-benz.com/en/
Mercedes-Benz (German pronunciation:[mɛɐ̯ˈtseːdəs ˈbɛnts]) is a German automobile manufacturer, a multinational division of the German manufacturer Daimler AG.
This article is about the German automobile manufacturer. For the British automobile manufacturer, see Daimler Company.
Daimler AG Headquarters
Traded as
FWB: DAI
Daimler-Benz (1926-1998)
DaimlerChrysler (1998-2007)
1998; 18 years ago
(as DaimlerChrysler)
Dieter Zetsche(CEO and Chairman of the Board of Directors)
Manfred Bischoff (Chairman of the supervisory board)
Automobiles, commercial vehicles
€129.872 billion (2014)
€44.584 billion (2014)
Institutional shareholders(74.8%)
Private shareholders (15.3%)
Kuwait Investment Authority(6.8%)
Renault–Nissan Alliance(3.1%)
List[show]
www.daimler.com
Daimler AG (help·info) (German pronunciation:[ˈdaɪmlɐ aːˈɡeː]) is a German multinational automotive corporation. Daimler AG is headquartered in Stuttgart, Baden-Württemberg, Germany. As of 2014, Daimler owns or has shares in a number of car, bus, truck and motorcycle brands including Mercedes-Benz, Mercedes-AMG, Smart Automobile, Freightliner, Western Star, Thomas Built Buses, Setra, BharatBenz, Mitsubishi Fuso, MV Agusta as well as shares in Denza, KAMAZ, Beijing Automotive Group, and Renault-Nissan Alliance. The Maybach brand was closed at the end of 2012, but was revived in November 2014 as "Mercedes-Maybach", an ultra luxury edition of the Mercedes-Benz S-Class. In 2014 Daimler sold 2.5 million vehicles. By unit sales, Daimler is the thirteenth-largest car manufacturer and second-largest truck manufacturer in the world. In addition to automobiles, Daimler manufactures buses and provides financial services through its Daimler Financial Services arm. The company is a component of the Euro Stoxx 50stock market index.
Daimler AG is a German manufacturer of automobiles, motor vehicles, and engines, which dates back more than a century.
An Agreement of Mutual Interest was signed on 1 May 1924 between Benz & Cie (founded 1883 by Karl Benz) and Daimler Motoren Gesellschaft (founded 1890 by Gottlieb Daimler and Wilhelm Maybach).
Both companies continued to manufacture their separate automobile and internal combustion engine brands until, on 28 June 1926, when Benz & Cie. and Daimler Motoren Gesellschaft AG formally merged—becoming Daimler-BenzAG—and agreed that, thereafter, all of the factories would use the brand name of Mercedes-Benz on their automobiles.
In 1998, Daimler-Benz and Chrysler Corporation announced the world's largest cross-border deal ever, valued at US$38billion, and the resulting change in company name to "DaimlerChrysler AG".
In 2007, when the Chrysler group was sold off to Cerberus Capital Management (see below), the name of the parent company was changed to simply "Daimler AG".
In November 2014, Daimler announced it would acquire 25 percent of Italian motorcycle producer MV Agusta for an undisclosed fee.
Timeline of Daimler AG
Benz & Company, 1883–1926
Daimler Motoren Gesellschaft AG, 1890–1926
Daimler-Benz AG, 1926–1998
DaimlerChrysler AG, 1998–2007
Daimler AG, 2007–present
Merger with Chrysler
The former logo of Daimler Chrysler AG.
In a so-called "Merger of Equals," or "Marriage made in Heaven", according to its then CEO and architect Jürgen E. Schrempp, Daimler-Benz AG and United States-based automobile manufacturer Chrysler Corporation, the smallest of the three American automakers, merged in 1998 in an exchange of shares as Daimler-Benz AG bought 92% of Chrysler, and 8% of Chrysler remained independent and formed DaimlerChrysler AG. The terms of the merger allowed Daimler-Benz's non-automotive businesses such as Daimler-Benz InterServices AG, "debis AG" for short, (created in 1989 to handle data processing, financial and insurance services, and real estate management for the Daimler group) to continue to pursue their respective strategies of expansion. debis AG reported revenues of $8.6 bn (DM 15.5 bn) in 1997.
The merger was contentious with investors launching lawsuits over whether the transaction was the 'merger of equals' that senior management claimed or actually amounted to a Daimler-Benz takeover of Chrysler. A class action investor lawsuit was settled in August 2003 for US$300 million while a suit by billionaire investor activist Kirk Kerkorian was dismissed on 7 April 2005. The transaction claimed the job of its architect, Chairman Jürgen E. Schrempp, who resigned at the end of 2005 in response to the fall of the company's share price following the transaction. The merger was also the subject of a book Taken for a Ride: How Daimler-Benz Drove Off With Chrysler, (2000) by Bill Vlasic and Bradley A. Stertz.
Another issue of contention is whether the merger delivered promised synergies and successfully integrated the two businesses. Martin H. Wiggers' concept of a platform strategy like the VW Group, was implemented only for a few models, so the synergy effects in development and production were too low. As late as 2002, DaimlerChrysler appeared to run two independent product lines. Later that year, the company launched products that appeared to integrate elements from both sides of the company, including the
2006 Chrysler Crossfire (ZH MY05) coupe.jpg
Chrysler Crossfire, which was based on the Mercedes SLK platform and utilized Mercedes's 3.2L V6, and the Dodge Sprinter/Freightliner Sprinter, a re-badged Mercedes-Benz Sprinter van.
Sale of Chrysler
Daimler agreed to sell the Chrysler unit to Cerberus Capital Management in May 2007 for US$6 billion. Through most of its history, Chrysler has been the smallest of the "Big 3" U.S. automakers, but in January 2007, DaimlerChrysler, excluding its luxury Mercedes and Maybach lines, also outsold traditionally second place Ford, though behind General Motors and Toyota.
Chrysler reported losses of US$1.5 billion in 2006. It then announced plans to lay off 13,000 employees in mid-February 2007, close a major assembly plant and reduce production at other plants in order to restore profitability by 2008.
DaimlerChrysler had reportedly approached other carmakers and investment groups to sell Chrysler in early 2007. General Motors was reported to be a suitor, but on 3 August 2007, DaimlerChrysler completed the sale of Chrysler Group to Cerberus Capital Management. The original agreement stated that Cerberus would take an 80.1 percent stake in the new company, Chrysler Holding LLC. DaimlerChrysler changed its name to Daimler AG and retained the remaining 19.9% stake in the separated Chrysler.
The terms saw Daimler pay Cerberus US$650 million to take Chrysler and associated liabilities off its hands. Of the US$7.4 billion purchase price, Cerberus Capital Management will invest US$5 billion in Chrysler Holdings and US$1.05 billion in Chrysler's financial unit. The de-merged Daimler AG received US$1.35 billion directly from Cerberus but directly invested US$2 billion in Chrysler itself.
2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo NHTSA 2
Since Chrysler's 2009 bankruptcy filing in the United States, Chrysler has been controlled by Italian automaker Fiat and plans to integrate Chrysler's products into the Fiat portfolio, such as Lancia and Chrysler's namesake brand, and Fiat's namesake brand with Dodge. Despite the fact it had been nearly seven years after the Daimler/Chrysler split, the fourth-generation Jeep Grand Cherokee shares a platform with the Mercedes-Benz M-Class. This also includes the Chrysler LX platform vehicles which initially used Mercedes-Benz components since its 2005 introduction.
Automated cars
On 3 August 2015, Nokia announced that it had reached a deal to sell its Here digital maps division to a consortium of three German automakers—BMW, Daimler AG, and Volkswagen Group, for €2.8 billion. This was seen as an indication that the automakers were interested in automated cars.
Dieter Zetsche has been the Chairman of Daimler and Head of Mercedes-Benz Cars since 1 January 2006 as well as member of the Board of Management since 1998. He was former President and CEO of the Chrysler, LLC (previously owned by Daimler AG), he may be best known in the United States as "Dr. Z" from a Chrysler advertising campaign called "Ask Dr. Z".
Current (2015) members of the Board of Management of Daimler AG are:
Dr. Dieter Zetsche: Chairman of the Board as well as Head of Mercedes-Benz Cars.
Dr. Wolfgang Bernhard: Head of Daimler Trucks.
Renata Jungo Brüngger: Integrity and Legal Affairs.
Ola Källenius: Head of Mercedes-Benz Cars Marketing and Sales.
Wilfried Porth: Head of Human Resources and Labor Relations.
Hubertus Troska: Greater China.
Bodo Uebber: Head of Finance and Controlling as well as Financial Services.
Dr. Thomas Weber: Head of Group Research and Mercedes-Benz Cars Development.
The Board of Management total members of seven, after the unexpected resignation on 28 January 2014 of Andreas Renschler, former head of Manufacturing and Procurement Mercedes-Benz Cars & Mercedes-Benz Vans, has been brought back to eight after the nomination on 1 January 2015 of Swedish-born Ola Källenius to the Board of Management as Head of Mercedes-Benz Cars Marketing and Sales.
As of May 2015, the twenty members of Daimler AG's Supervisory Board are: Manfred Bischoff (Chairman), Michael Brecht (Deputy Chairman), Paul Achleitner, Sari Baldauf, Michael Bettag, Bernd Bohr, Clemens Börsig, Jürgen Hambrecht, Petraea Heynike, Andrea Jung, Joe Kaeser, Ergun Lümali, Sabine Maaßen, Wolfgang Nieke, Bernd Pischetsrieder, Valter Sanches, Jörg Spies, Elke Tönjes-Werner, Frank Weber, Roman Zitzelsberger.
by Ownership
Institutional investors: 73.7%
Private investors: 16.4
Kuwait Investment Authority (Kuwait): 6.8%
Renault (France): 1.54%
Nissan (Japan): 1.54%
by Regio 29.7% Europe (excluding Germany), 32.1% German, 25.5% United States, 6.8% Kuwait, 5.4% Asia, 0.5% Others.
EADS shareholding
As of March 2010, Daimler owned a 22.5% share of EADS, of which the public sector held 40%.
In April 2013, Daimler sold its shares in EADS, and the same year, EADS restructured itself into a new aerospace company named Airbus, into which Daimler AG has no shareholding.
On the side of the public sector, the KfW banking group holds 13%, HGV Hamburger Gesellschaft fur Vermogens- und Beteiligungsverwaltung (State of Hamburg) holds 10%, Hannoversche Beteiligungsgesellschaft (State of Lower Saxony) holds 5%,Bayerische Landesbodenkreditanstalt, Anstalt der Bayerischen Landesbank holds 3.5%, LfA Forderbank Bayern holds 1.5%, Landesbank Baden-Württemberg and Landeskreditbank Baden-Württemberg – Forderbank (L-Bank) each holds 2.5%, and Bremer Investitions-Gesellschaft (State of Bremen) holds 2%.
Daimler-Benz AG (1926–1998)
Wilhelm Kissel (1926–1942)
Wilhelm Haspel (1942–1952)
Heinrich C. Wagner (1952)
Fritz Koenecke (1952–1960)
Walter Hitzinger (1961–1966)
Joachim Zahn (1966–1979)
Gerhard Prinz (1980–1983)
Werner Breitschwerdt (1983–1987)
Edzard Reuter (1987–1995)
Jürgen E. Schrempp (1995–1998)
DaimlerChrysler AG (1998–2007)
Robert James Eaton (co-CEO, 1998–2000)
Dieter Zetsche (2006–2007)
Daimler AG (2007–present)
Dieter Zetsche (2007–present)
Annette Winkler (2010–present) CEO, Smart Automobile
North Charleston Expansion
On 5 March 2015, Daimler AG announced a 1,200 jobs package to the North Charleston region for its van plant. This will allow the company to start manufacturing Mercedes-Benz Sprinter vans from scratch in a North Charleston plant to meet demand in North America. Currently, these vans are set up in Germany, then shipped to the United States partially disassembled for reassembly. This is all to avoid import tariffs, a practice that started in 2010. A Daimler official said that the Sprinter's popularity in North America is making that process less efficient. The North Charleston plant had been employing only 100 workers. The Sprinter is available on the U.S. market as a panel van, crew bus and chassis in several variants with three lengths and roof heights, six-cylinder diesel or gasoline engines. The Sprinter has been assembled and sold in the United States since 2001.
The largest Daimler plant (producing Mercedes-Benz cars) in Sindelfingen, Germany.
Daimler sells automobiles under the following brands worldwide:
Maybach – production ended in 2012
Smart (automobile)
small cars Clever Car
open your mind.
Böblingen, Germany
Annette Winkler CEO, 2010–present
www.smart.com
1993 eco-sprinter and eco-speedster concepts
A Stack of Smart vehicles in Canberra
A Smart Fortwo mhd cabrio (left) and a Smart Fortwo mhd coupe (right) 2003 Smart V6 Biturbo
Smart Automobile is a division of Daimler AG that manufactures and markets the Smart Fortwo and Smart Forfour. The official trademarked name is stylized as "smart", with all lowercase letters. Headquartered in Böblingen, Germany, Smart has marketed a range of microcar and subcompact vehicles, with its primary assembly plants located in Hambach, France and Novo Mesto, Slovenia. Annette Winkler has served as Smart's CEO since 2010.
Marketed in 46 countries—in Asia, North and South America, Africa, Australia and Europe—production of the Fortwo had surpassed 1.7 million units by early 2015.
The design concept for the company's automobiles began at Mercedes in the early 1970s and in the late 1980s, associated with Swatch. After a brief period of backing by Volkswagen, the first model was launched by Daimler-Benz in October 1998. Several variants on the original design have been introduced, with the original two-seater called the Fortwo, now in its third generation and available as an electric version.
The brand name Smart derives from its early cooperative studies with Swatch and Mercedes: Swatch Mercedes ART. In its corporate branding, the company uses a lowercase logotype (i.e., smart) and a logo incorporating the letter "c" for "compact" and an arrow for "forward thinking".
In late 1982, SMH (makers of the Swatch brand of watches) CEO Nicolas Hayek began developing an idea for a new car using the same type of manufacturing strategies and personalization features used to popularize Swatch watches. He believed that the automotive industry had ignored a sector of potential customers who wanted a small and stylish city car. This idea soon became known as the "Swatchmobile". Hayek's private company Hayek Engineering AG began designing the new car for SMH, with seating for two and a hybrid drivetrain.
While design of the car was proceeding, Hayek feared existing manufacturers would feel threatened by the Swatchmobile. Thus, rather than directly competing, he preferred to cooperate with another company in the automotive industry. This would also relieve SMH of the cost burden in setting up a distribution network. Hayek approached several automotive manufacturers and on July 3, 1991, he reached an agreement with Volkswagen to share development of the new project.
By 1993, Ferdinand Piëch had become CEO of Volkswagen and he immediately sought to terminate the project with SMH. Volkswagen had already been working on their own "three-litre car": a car which would consume three litres of fuel per 100 km of driving (the eventual Volkswagen Lupo 3L). Volkswagen's own concept was believed to be a better business proposition, featuring four seats and more cargo room.
Hayek had suspected that Piëch would seek to end the agreement with SMH upon his ascendancy to the CEO position; therefore, he discreetly began approaching other car companies with the Swatchmobile project. Rebuffed by BMW, Fiat, General Motors and Renault, he finally reached an informal agreement with Daimler-Benz AG, maker of Mercedes-Benz cars.
A deal was announced on March 4, 1994, at a press conference at Mercedes-Benz headquarters in Stuttgart that the companies would join forces in founding Micro Compact Car AG (MCC). 49% of the initial capital of 50 million Swiss francs were provided by SMH and the remaining 51% by Daimler-Benz. The company consisted of two subsidiaries: MCC GmbH based in Renningen (a suburb of Stuttgart) which would design the car, and the then-unnamed manufacturing plant. SMH Auto SA, owned by Hayek, would design a hybrid electric drive system for the car, while Hayek Engineering would audit the design and manufacturing.
The press conference also featured the debut of two concept cars: the eco-sprinter and eco-speedster, styled by Mercedes-Benz's design studio in California. The cars were similar to the eventual Smart City-Coupé. No mention was made of the fact that SMH had no input in the design of these concepts, and they were badged as Mercedes-Benzes.
By the end of April 1994, MCC had set up a head office in Biel, Switzerland.
Three co-directors were immediately named to head the new company: designer and engineer Johann Tomforde and financial administrator Christoph Baubin from Daimler-Benz, and marketing manager Hans Jürg Schär, who spearheaded the original Swatch marketing campaigns in the mid-1980s. Tomforde had been working on the Mercedes City Car (coincidentally abbreviated MCC) project at Daimler-Benz since 1990, which produced theeco-sprinter and eco-speedster concepts as well as the Vision-A concept, which eventually became the Mercedes-Benz A-Class.
One of the first controversies at MCC was the name of the car itself. Nicolas Hayek insisted it retain Swatch in some way: "Swatchmobile", or "Swatch Car". Daimler-Benz refused, and pushed for a neutral name. The final selection was Smart, an acronym that had been previously used internally by MCC for Swatch Mercedes Art.
By May 1994, the co-directors had identified 74 potential sites for the assembly plant. The final site was announced on December 20, 1994: Hambach, France. The purpose-built factory quickly gained the nickname "Smartville".
In 1995, Tomforde devised a modular system of assembly for the car, insisting suppliers design and assemble, and even install their own modules onto the final car, at the new plant using their own employees thus reducing the cost overhead for the parent companies and divesting MCC of the financial and legal liabilities for those parts. It also provided a fiscal framework whereby MCC could share the development costs with the suppliers, rather than having to fund the entire project themselves. MCC secured contracts with suppliers to design and supply almost all parts of the car: seats by Faurecia, interiors by VDO, chassis and door modules by Magna, door panels by Dynamit Nobel, and suspension by Krupp.
Despite offloading a substantial amount of the development on the suppliers MCC required more capital. Recapitalization by Daimler-Benz increased their share of ownership in the company to 81% by 1996, leaving SMH with only the remaining 19%.
The assembly plant opened on October 27, 1997, with a ceremonial ribbon-cutting by then-French President Jacques Chirac and German Chancellor Helmut Kohl. Introduction of the new Smart city-Coupé was planned for March, 1998, however dynamic instability of the prototypes prompted Daimler-Benz to announce postponing the launch until October, 1998. Johann Tomforde was replaced as chief engineer by Gerhard Fritz. Fritz lowered the centre of gravity, widened the track, stiffened the suspension, changed the steering, and added ballast weight to the front of the car in order to increase its stability in emergency avoidance manoeuvres (notably the Swedish "moose test").
The car launched successfully in nine European countries in October 1998, but the final design did not fulfill Hayek's expectations. Hayek pushed for a hybrid drivetrain but the final product used a relatively conventional gasoline engine. Shortly afterward Daimler-Benz bought out SMH's remaining stake in the company. MCC was now a wholly owned subsidiary of Daimler-Benz (which soon merged with Chrysler Corporation to become DaimlerChrysler). The office in Biel was shut down and operations were consolidated at the MCC GmbH design centre in Germany. On January 1, 1999, MCC GmbH changed its name to MCC Smart GmbH, and by 2000, it dropped the last vestiges of the association with SMH, becoming Smart GmbH.
The model line was subsequently expanded to include the Roadster a rear-engine, rear-drive and four-door, four-seat supermini aptly named Forfour (the original City-Coupé was renamed Fortwo to fit the new naming scheme).
The expansion did not increase profits at the company; Smart GmbH lost nearly 4 billion euros from 2003 to 2006. Plans were enacted to increase the company's profitability and integrate its operations with Daimler (at the time DaimlerChrysler).
In 2005, Daimler decided against purchasing a 50% share in the Dutch NedCar plant used to manufacture the ForFour, ending its production. A planned SUV called Formore was terminated as the assembly plant in Brazil was being fitted with machines, and production of the Roadster was discontinued. In 2006, after dwindling sales and heavy financial losses, Smart GmbH was liquidated and its operations were absorbed by DaimlerChrysler directly.
Smart now operates under the Mercedes-Benz Cars division of Daimler AG, offering solely the Fortwo Coupe and Cabrio models.
Apart from the original Smart Fortwo, a sporty Smart Roadster, a limited production of 2000 erstwhile concept Smart Crossblade and a supermini Smart Forfour were also offered. These have now been discontinued. There were also plans to introduce the French made cross-over based on the body of the ForFour and the AWD hardware of the Mercedes C-class with the name of Formore but industrialization of this was cancelled at the 11th hour (even as tooling was being installed in the assembly plant) due to unfavourable exchange rate swings and spending cutbacks driven by losses elsewhere within Smart.
1998–2000 Smart City-Coupé & City-Cabrio* (*from 2000) 2002 Smart Crossblade 2001-2007 Smart City-C0upé & City Cabrio ( renamed Fortwo in 2004) 2001-2004 Smart K (Japan only) 2003-2005 Smart Roadster 2004-2006 +2014-present Smart Forfour 2007-present Smart Fortwo 2008–present (in limited trials) Smart Fortwo ED (formerly known as EV)
Tridion 4 (2001)Concept and unproduced models
2005 smart crosstown-hybrid
Forvision (2011)
Forstars (2012)
Formore (never shown)
Electric versions
Smart Electric Vehicle
Two Smart Electric Vehicle cars deployed in the Car2Go carsharing program charging at the Herengracht in Amsterdam
Main article: Smart electric drive
An all-electric version of the Fortwo, the Smart Fortwo Electric Vehicle (previously known as Smart ED), began development in 2006. Field testing began in London with 100 units in 2007, and the second generation, with a total of 2,000 units produced, was introduced in 2009 and available in 18 markets around the world for leasing or through the Car2Go carsharing service in San Diego and Amsterdam. Production of the second-generation Smart Fortwo electric drive began in November 2009, in Hambach, France. The Smart EDs have a lithium-ion battery provided by Tesla Motors with capacity of 14 kilowatt-hours (50 MJ). The range of a fully charged battery is up to 135 kilometres (84 miles) under the New European Driving Cycle (NEDC). The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's official all-electric range is 63 miles (101 km) and rated the Smart ED with a combined fuel economy of 87 miles per gallon gasoline equivalent (mpg-e) (2.7 L gasoline equivalent/100 km; 104 mpg-imp gasoline equivalent).
The third-generation Smart electric drive is scheduled to be launched in the U.S. and Europe by the second quarter of 2013 and Daimler AG plans to mass-produce the electric car with availability in 30 markets worldwide. The third-generation Smart electric drive was unveiled at the September 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show. Key differences with the second-generation model include a more powerful electric motor, which improves acceleration and top speed, a new lithium-ion battery pack that will allow to increase the range to 140 kilometres (87 mi), and an option for quick-charge will be available.
Main article: Electric vehicle conversion
Smart electric drive is a Smart Fortwo electric conversion. It has a 40 km range with AGM batteries (100 km with Li-ion batteries)
First generation Smart models equipped with engine sizes smaller than 660 cubic centimetres (40 cu in) fit into the Kei car category of cars in Japan, and are eligible for a range of lower taxes. Recent models with a larger engine do not meet the Kei qualifications. Because of high taxation on older cars in Japan, many older used Smart cars are exported to other countries with right-hand drive, like Great Britain and South Africa. An official version of the Smart Fortwo called the 'Smart K' has been released to fit the Kei car category. English musician Steve Appleton is featured in a Smart TV commercial, running in Japan during 2010.
Smart was shown in April 2008, at the Beijing Auto Show. Smart Fortwo started the pre-sales in October 2008 and the Smart vending machine road show in 12 cities from October 2008 to February 2009.
Smart is available in Hong Kong with authorized dealer, Zung Fu Motors.
Since 29 November 2010, the Smart fortwo has been available in Indonesia with PT. Mercedes-Benz Indonesia (MBI) as the authorized dealer. MBI originally offered three models: Pure Coupe, Passion Coupe, and Passion Cabriolet, for sale in Jakarta and Bali. Indonesia is also the first country in Southeast Asia to have the Smart Electric Drive, which has been lent to the Government of DKI Jakarta for a one-year period and can be extended for further indefinite period by a signed agreement between PT. Mercedes-Benz Indonesia, PT. Siemens Indonesia, and the Government of DKI Jakarta. The Smart ED will then serve as a pilot project to prove the effectivity of zero-emission car usage that can utilize alternative sources of energy.
The Smart Fortwo was introduced in Canada in late 2004 and was sold through Mercedes-Benz dealers. Demand was initially heavy with up to 6-month waiting lists in major urban areas in the spring of 2005. The vehicle was especially popular for commuters, small car enthusiasts, people needing light delivery and service vehicles. Demand relaxed slightly in the second year on the market. Sales rebounded with the second generation. Canadian Smart cdis cannot be registered in some states in the US. The Smart Fortwo USA
10,239 Smart Fortwo cdis had been sold in Canada by the first month of 2008. Just before the Type 450 ended production (after which the production had equaled 770,256 cars) Mercedes-Benz Canada built up stock of cdis to tide dealers over until the successor model 451 arrived at the end of 2007.
The Canadian version of the Type 450 Smart Fortwo cdi sold to 915 customers over three months in 2004, 4,080 were sold in 2005, and 3,023 in 2006. Virtually all the deliveries in 2004 and many of the deliveries in 2005 were to long-time Smart fans who had been waiting for their car for years, which largely accounts for the higher numbers. Through 2007, sales totaled about 2,200 units, with the last few cars being sold in the first month of 2008, when the new Type 451 was already on sale. The Smart's strongest sales performance ever in Canada was in April 2007, when more than 500 units were sold. Sales are strongest (per capita) in Western Canada, with Vancouver Island and Vancouver being especially hot markets.
The 2008-2011 (North America) Smart Fortwo Type 451 was totally redesigned, with a 70 HP naturally aspirated Mitsubishi-sourced gasoline engine of 999 cc for North America, up from the 799 cc cdi diesel, with the attendant loss of fuel economy. Smart decided not to import the cdi version of the 451, now with 55 DIN HP, although this decision has led to criticism that the new Smart does not get the fuel economy that many would expect from such a small car. The 799 cc, far more fuel efficient diesel is sold in Europe and some other markets.
The BRABUS Tailor-Made program is not well advertised in Canada, but at least 16 Tailor-Made cars have been produced to Canadian specification. These vehicles are sent to the BRABUS factory in Bottrop, Germany, where the standard ex-works cars are stripped to the shell and repainted/retrimmed to suit individual customers' tastes. The first four are the BRABUS Canada 1; three in bright red (including the tridion, two cabriolets and one coupé) and one in all white (a cabriolet). Aside from the special paint, all had every BRABUS part fitted to the body and interior, and the seats, door panels and dashboards were trimmed in black Nappa leather and Alcantara. Three of these cars are in British Columbia and #1-of-1, the Concept vehicle used at Canadian International Auto Shows (a red cabrio with silver alloys), is now in London, Ontario. The next BRABUS Tailor-Made Canadian car was a one-off all orange 451 made for a customer in Vancouver. The other ten were all ordered by Mercedes-Benz Canada as the special "edit10n" of the Canadian BRABUS 451 (with only 70 HP), painted in metallic dark grey with an orange Nappe leather interior. There is also at least one BoConcept 451 built to Canadian standards.
In 2009, the Government of Canada acquired the European Smart mhd (micro hybrid drive) through partnership with Mercedes-Benz Canada. The project was administered by the ecoTECHNOLOGY for Vehicles(eTV) program within Transport Canada. Goals were to identify the benefits of the start-stop system equipped on the vehicle and how to accelerate the penetration of this technology throughout Canada. See Smart mhd Test Results Report.
Smart Fortwo (2nd generation)parked in downtown Washington, D.C.
Before 2008, Smart cars were only available in the United States as "grey market" imports, such as ZAP. U.S. federal regulations allow certain grey market importing in large quantities provided the vehicles are modified and tested to conform to U.S. safety and emissions regulations. Smarts imported into the United States by "The Defiance Company LLC", modified by G&K Automotive Conversion in Santa Ana, California, and distributed and sold by independent dealerships which were not affiliated with Mercedes. U.S. regulations did not permit the purchase and import of used Smart CDi vehicles from Canada, as the diesel powered Canadian Smarts did not meet American emissions regulations.
In June 2006, DaimlerChrysler confirmed that Smart would be officially launched in the United States in the first quarter of 2008. The cars were offered through a dealership holding company Penske Automotive Group, which created a new U.S. dealership network for the brand under the name Smart USA. Initially, an updated gasoline powered Fortwo was offered, starting around US$12,000. The new model made its debut at European auto shows in November 2006.
Hybrid Technologies plans to sell an electric version of the Smart Fortwo model in the U.S. starting at US$35,000. It is being called a hybrid car even though the vehicle is all-electric. The electric Smart will have a range of 120 to 150 miles (190–240 km), a top speed of 80 mph (130 km/h), and charge in 5 to 6 hours using a standard 120 V AC outlet. An electric model is currently undergoing testing in the UK and will only be offered to commercial clients as a trial for the time being. The electric model is scheduled for a U.S. release for the 2012 model year with some test market cars surfacing in 4th quarter 2010.
A Forbes article has been critical of the stated reasons that Daimler-Chrysler gave for introducing the car in the United States. The Smart fortwo may have claimed to be the most fuel-efficient fully gasoline-engined car for sale in the US, but it actually lags behind the 4-door Mitsubishi Mirage and 2-door Scion iQ (combined 40 mpg and 37 mpg, respectively). According to the EPA, the Smart's fuel efficiency is lower than the fuel efficiency of some hybrids, including the Ford Fusion, the Toyota Prius, the Honda Civic Hybrid, and the 2-seat Honda Insight, which achieve 41/36, 51/48, 40/43, and 40/43 respectively while the Smart achieves 33 city and 41 highway. The Smart Fortwo is the most efficient car at its pricepoint, since it costs about half as much as a hybrid in the US.
Car2Go carsharing Smart fortwo (2nd generation) in downtown Washington, D.C.
The Fortwo has received much attention in the U.S. In its April 2008 issue, Men's Vogue raised the question, "in a nation where your supersized car is your castle, is the Smart too mini for a man?".
To obtain a Smart Fortwo originally required obtaining a "reservation" costing $99 through a dealer or over the internet. The waiting time in January 2009 was approximately 12 months; by July 2009, there was no wait to obtain a vehicle and dealers had them in stock for immediate delivery.
On January 25, 2010, Smart USA began its first lease program in the US market for Smart fortwo models. The program was scheduled to last through February 28, 2010, but has been extended indefinitely despite lack of leasing sales.
Penske Automotive Group announced plans February 14, 2011, to relinquish distribution of the Smart Fortwo under Smart USA, to Mercedes-Benz USA. In 2011, Smart USA offered four versions of their Fortwo model. These models include the following: cabriolet, the high-cost convertible version; passion, the mid-cost moonroof version; pure, the low-cost basic version; and electric drive, the electric version.
On July 1, 2011, Mercedes-Benz USA took over the distribution, sales and marketing of the Smart brand from Penske Automotive Group. Smart is owned and produced by Mercedes' parent, Daimler AG.
As of 2015 all models are petrol or electric.
The Smart Fortwo was introduced in 2003, and were sold in department stores Sanborns and Liverpool. Later Mercedes-Benz dealers started to offer the car. Currently Smart cars are still offered in the country, with only the Fortwo model available.Smart offers the hardtop and convertible models of the Fortwo coupé in Mexico.
Smart Fortwo has fierce competition with the Hyundai Atos, Pontiac Matiz, and Chevrolet Chevy, which are compacts with low gas consumption at less than half the cost of a Smart but with more space for passengers.
In Argentina, the Fortwo has been for sale since 2010 and models (Fortwo Cabrio and Fortwo Coupé) can be bought in dealerships located in the Puerto Madero neighborhood of Buenos Aires.
In Brazil, the Fortwo has been for sale since 2009 and models (fortwo cabrio turbo, fortwo coupé turbo and fortwo coupé MHD) can be bought in some Smart and/or Mercedes-Benz dealerships in São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Belo Horizonte and Porto Alegre cities. The electric, brabus and forfour versions are not available for the Brazilian market.
Since 2003, Smart models have been for sale in Australia. All models that have been produced have been sold in Australia. The Smart Fortwo is currently sold through Mercedes-Benz Dealerships. Mercedes-Benz dealerships around Australia as of 2003 were only offering the Fortwo in the "Pulse" mid-range trim, thus the "Passion", "Brabus Xclusive" and other trims are not available as yet, until further notice or changes.
In March 2015 it was announced that the Smart brand would be withdrawn from Australia due to poor sales.
Launched in the United Kingdom in 2000, the current range features the Smart Fortwo convertible, and Smart Fortwo Coupé. Smart is available in the UK through Mercedes Benz retailers.
The UK is host to a number of annual events, both official and unofficial, including the Smart Festival, held annually at Mercedes-Benz World in Weybridge, near historic Brooklands – the world's first purpose-built motor racing circuit.
The Smart brand debuted in the Russian market in 2012 with the Fortwo model only.
Cutaway showing structure of the Smart Fortwo
The Smart Fortwo uses a very small front crumple zone. The second generation Smart Fortwo has been awarded 4 out of 5 stars in the Euro NCAP Adult Occupant Protection and 2 out of 4 stars in the Pedestrian protection test, but was not tested for Child Occupant Protection as it has no rear seats. The original Smart was awarded 3 out of 5 stars for Adult Occupant Protection. In American tests using a five star rating, Smart cars received a four star safety rating for the driver from a front impact, and a five star safety rating for the driver for a side impact. It also received "Good" ratings for front and side crash protection in Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) tests. However, in an April 2009 40 mph frontal offset crash test between a Fortwo and a Mercedes C-Class, "the Smart went air-borne and turned around 450 degrees" causing "extensive intrusion into the space around the dummy from head to feet". The IIHS rated the Smart Fortwo "Poor," noting that "Multiple injuries, including to the head, would be likely for a real-world driver of a Smart in a similar collision."
The main structure of the car is a stiff structure, marketed as the Tridion Safety Cell, designed to activate the crumple zones of a colliding vehicle. This design creates a safety cell around the passengers, according to the manufacturer.
Smart models have been modified by Brabus of Germany, resulting in Brabus production models, including Smart BRABUS electric drive.
Other companies modify the Smart Fortwo to use motorcycle engines, such as the Suzuki Hayabusa 1340 cc inline four-cylinder. These cars are known as Smartuki. The most powerful models can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph (0 to 100 km/h) in less than 3.5 seconds. The original car was fitted with a mildly tuned engine and ran 0-60 mph in 4.5 seconds, 1/4 mile standing start in 12.4 seconds and a top speed of 132 mph (212 km/h). It is possible to push the GSXR engine further; nitrous oxide will add another 50 bhp (37 kW; 51 PS) – 80 bhp (60 kW; 81 PS) and there is a turbocharged option.
Crosstown Hybrid (2005) 2011 Smart forspeed concept Forspeed (2011)
Mercedes-Benz (truck group)
Sterling Trucks – operations wound down in 2010, but will continue to support authorized dealers and vehicle owners
Alliance Truck Parts
Mercedes-Benz buses
Orion Bus Industries – operations winded down in 2012, and closed in 2013
Mercedes-Benz (vans group)
Daimler Financial Services
Mercedes-Benz Financial
Daimler Truck Financial
Mercedes AMG High Performance Powertrains (Builds engines for Formula 1 Racing)
The brand is known for luxury automobiles, buses, coaches, and trucks. The headquarters of Mercedes-Benz is in Stuttgart, Baden-Württemberg, Germany.
The name first appeared in 1926 under Daimler-Benz, but traces its origins to Daimler-Motoren-Gesellschaft's 1901 Mercedes and to Karl Benz's 1886 Benz Patent-Motorwagen, which is widely regarded as the first gasoline powered automobile. Mercedes-Benz's slogan is "The Best or Nothing". Mercedes-Benz is one of the most recognized automotive brands worldwide.
Karl Benz. Benz made the 1886 Benz Patent Motorwagen, which is widely regarded as the first automobile.
Gottlieb Daimler, Founder of Daimler-Motoren-Gesellschaft.
Mercedes-Benz traces its origins to Karl Benz's creation of the first petrol-powered car, the Benz Patent Motorwagen, financed by Bertha Benz and patented in January 1886, and Gottlieb Daimler and engineer Wilhelm Maybach's conversion of a stagecoach by the addition of a petrol engine later that year. The Mercedes automobile was first marketed in 1901 by Daimler-Motoren-Gesellschaft. The first Mercedes-Benz brand name vehicles were produced in 1926, following the merger of Karl Benz's and Gottlieb Daimler's companies into the Daimler-Benz company. Throughout the 1930s, Mercedes-Benz produced the 770 model, a car that was popular during Germany's Nazi period.Adolf Hitler was known to have driven these cars during his time in power, with bulletproof windshields. Most of the surviving models have been sold at auctions to private buyers. One of them is currently on display at the War Museum in Ottawa, Ontario. The pontiff's Popemobile has often been sourced from Mercedes-Benz. Mercedes-Benz has introduced many technological and safety innovations that later became common in other vehicles.Mercedes-Benz is one of the best-known and established automotive brands in the world, and is also one of the world's oldest automotive brand still in existence today in 2015, having produced the first petrol-powered car.
For information relating to the famous three-pointed star, see under the title Daimler-Motoren-Gesellschaft including the merger into Daimler-Benz.
Subsidiaries and alliances
As part of the Daimler AG company, the Mercedes-Benz Cars division includes Mercedes-Benz and Smart car production.
Mercedes-AMG became a majority owned division of Mercedes-Benz in 1999. The company was integrated into DaimlerChrysler in 1999, and became Mercedes-Benz AMG beginning on 1 January 1999.
McLaren Group
Mercedes-AMG was the official engine supplier for the second oldest and most successful F1 team by Grand Prix wins, McLaren Racing from 1995-2014. In 2013 it was announced that after the last year with Mercedes contract with McLaren, Mercedes would be dropped and be replaced by Honda, with whom McLaren had world championship wins in the past together.
Mercedes have since gone on to buy their own Formula 1 team, buying the former Honda Racing F1 team, Brawn GP, and turning it into Mercedes F1 in 2010. Despite a slow start, in 2012 the team began to show progress and rise to the front of the Grid with their first win coming from driver Nico Rosberg at the 2012 Chinese Grand Prix, before showing further progress again in 2013, when the team signed Lewis Hamilton from McLaren to replace the retiring Michael Schumacher. Hamilton's first win for the team came at the 2013 Hungarian Grand Prix.
In 2014 the team won the Formula One World Constructors Title, with Driver Lewis Hamilton going on to win the Drivers Title. In 2015 the team won their second successive World Constructors Title and drivers title with Lewis Hamilton once
Road car manufacturing
From 2003 to 2009, Mercedes were in a joint venture with McLaren Group to manufacture the Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren. At this time, Mercedes owned 40% of McLaren Group. Due to Mercedes purchasing Brawn GP, a F1 team, Mercedes decided to sell their shares back to Ron Dennis, as McLaren would be their rival in the F1 championship.
Daimler's ultra-luxury brand Maybach was under Mercedes-Benz cars division until 2013, when the production stopped due to poor sales volumes. It now exists under the Mercedes-Maybach name, with the models being ultra-luxury versions of Mercedes cars, such as the 2016 Mercedes-Maybach S600.
Beside its native Germany, Mercedes-Benz vehicles are also manufactured or assembled in:
Algeria Africa Manufactures Busses and Trucks in cooperation with SNVI (Actros , Zetros, Unimog, and G-Class, Sprinter).
Argentina South America Manufactures buses, trucks and the Sprinter van. This is the first Mercedes-Benz factory outside of Germany. Built in 1951.
Austria Europe G-Class
Bosnia and Herzegovina Europe
Brazil South America Manufactures trucks and buses. Established in 1956. The A-Class (W168) was produced from 1999 to 2005 and the C-Class was produced until 2010 as well.
Canada North America
Colombia South America Assembly of buses, Established in Soacha 2012 and Funza 2015
China Asia
Egypt Africa Via Egyptian German Automotive Company E-Class, C-Class and GLK
Finland Europe New A-series (W176) is manufactured in Uusikaupunki since late 2013, being the first M-B passenger car ever built in that country
Hungary Europe
Jordan Asia Buses company factory, Elba House, Amman.
India Asia Bangalore (R&D). Pune (Passenger cars).Chennai (Daimler India Commercial Vehicles Pvt. Ltd.) – Trucks & Engine Manufacturing unit.
Indonesia Asia /Australia
Iran Asia Not since 2010
Malaysia Asia Assembly of C, E and S class vehicles by DRB-HICOM.
Mexico North America Mercedes-Benz Mexico fully manufactures some Mercedes and Daimler vehicles completely from locally built parts (C-Class, E-Class, M-Class, International trucks, Axor, Atego, and Mercedes Buses), manufactures other models in complete knock down kits (CL-Class, CLK-Class, SL-Class, SLK-Class) and manufactures a select number of models in semi knockdown kits which use both imported components and locally sourced Mexican components (S-Class, CLS-Class, R-Class, GL-Class, Sprinter).
Nigeria Africa Assembly of buses, trucks, utility motors and the Sprinter van
Philippines Asia
Russia Eurasia Joint venture Mercedes-Benz Car Trucks Vostok in Naberezhnye Chelny (jointly Kamaz). Available in trucks Actros, Axor, multi-purpose auto four wheel drive medium trucks Unimog. Mercedes-Benz Sprinter Classic is also produced in Russia.
Serbia Europe FAP produces Mercedes-Benz trucks under license.
Spain Europe Factory at Vitoria-Gasteiz Mercedes-Benz Vito, Viano and V-Class have been built there.
South Africa Africa
South Korea Asia Mercedes-Benz Musso and MB100 models manufactured by SsangYong Motor Company.
Thailand Asia Assembly of C, E and S class vehicles by the Thonburi Group
Turkey Eurasia Mercedes-Benz Türk A.Ş.
United Kingdom Europe The SLR sports car was built at the McLaren Technology Centre in Woking. Brackley, Northamptonshire, is home to the Mercedes Grand Prix factory, and Brixworth, Northamptonshire is the location of Mercedes-Benz HighPerformanceEngines
United States North America The Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class Sport Utility and the full-sized GL-Class Luxury Sport Utility Vehicle are all built at the Mercedes-Benz U.S. International production facility near Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Trucks (6,000 per year in the early eighties) were once assembled in Hampton, VA.
Vietnam Asia Assembly of E-Class, C-Class, S-Class, GLK-Class and Sprinter. Established in 1995.
Quality rankings
Since its inception, Mercedes-Benz had maintained a reputation for its quality and durability. Objective measures looking at passenger vehicles, such as J. D. Power surveys, demonstrated a downturn in reputation in these criteria in the late 1990s and early 2000s. By mid-2005, Mercedes temporarily returned to the industry average for initial quality, a measure of problems after the first 90 days of ownership, according to J. D. Power. In J. D. Power's Initial Quality Study for the first quarter of 2007, Mercedes showed dramatic improvement by climbing from 25th to 5th place and earning several awards for its models. For 2008, Mercedes-Benz's initial quality rating improved by yet another mark, to fourth place. On top of this accolade, it also received the Platinum Plant Quality Award for its Mercedes' Sindelfingen, Germany assembly plant. J. D. Power's 2011 US Initial Quality and Vehicle Dependability Studies both ranked Mercedes-Benz vehicles above average in build quality and reliability. In the 2011 UK J. D. Power Survey, Mercedes cars were rated above average. A 2014 iSeeCars.com study for Reuters found Mercedes to have the lowest vehicle recall rate.
See also: List of Mercedes-Benz vehicles
List of Mercedes-Benz vehicles
GLA 200 in Düsseldorf Mercedes-Benz Vito van, 2014-present Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren (built from 2003 to 2010) Mercedes-Benz SSK, a roadster built from 1928 to 1932
The following is a List of Mercedes-Benz vehicles indexed by year of introduction. Mercedes Benz L 319 (produced 1955-1967) Mercedes Benz Auwärter 815D Vario minibus 1999 Mercedes Benz CLK-GTR race car (foreground)
In 1926 Daimler Motoren Gesellschaft and Benz & Cie. merged forming Daimler-Benz and selling the Mercedes-Benz line of vehicles. Mercedes was a brand of DMG started in 1901. It has produced vehicles into the 21st century
Daimler and Benz vehicles
Before 1926, Mercedes-Benz was two separate companies that were competitors. One originated from Karl Benz, who invented the car, and Maybach and Daimler, who started Daimler which produced the Mercedes brand. Somehow the companies survived two world wars and various economic depressions to become one of the major suppliers of automobiles and trucks in the 21st century in Germany and in many parts of the World. The company has also supplied engines to many different products
Maybach left the company in 1907 to start his own company which was eventually bought by Mercedes-Benz in 1960.
History Benz
Benz & Company Rheinische Gasmotoren-Fabrik (aka Benz & Cie), founded 1883
Benz Patent-Motorwagen 1886-1893 (~25 produced) Benz Velo 1894 Benz Viktoria 1894-1900 By 1895 1,132 vehicles produced 1902 benz parsifal 12 14 hp big 1902 Benz Parsifal 22 hp 1902-1903 – Benz Parsifal 1903 Benz Parsifal 60 horsepower racing car 1903 Benz Parsifal Phaeton Benz Parsifil 1902-1908 1907 24/40 hp Benz landaulet Blitzen Benz 1909 1910 Benz Prinz Heinrich car Benz 1910 'Prinz Heinrich' 1914 Benz 10-30 PS with Torpedo style bodywork Benz 10/30 PS 1912, 1921-1927 (also Daimler-Benz model after 1926) Benz 10/30(35) hp 1921
DMG (includes Mercedes)
Daimler Motoren Gesellschaft poster for a Mercedes Double Phaeton (1908)
Daimler-Motoren-Gesellschaft, founded in 1890 by Daimler and Maybach
Inventions of people Daimler and Maybach preceding DMG:
Daimler Motorized Carriage 1882 Daimler Reitwagen 1885
Daimler Motor Car 1886 1889 Daimler Stahlradwagen – 1,5 PS, 18 km/h – Mercedes-Benz-Museum, Stuttgart, Bad Cannstatt Daimler Stahlradwagen 1889
30 Daimler vehicles produced by 1895 Daimler belt-drive 1895-1899 Daimler Phoenix 1897-1902 4 hp and 6 hp Mercedes 35 hp 1901
Mercedes Simplex 1902
1910-24 Mercedes Knight 10-30 hp – 25-65 hp 1913 Daimler ambulance Type UK with 10-30 hp Knight engine 1913-15 Mercedes Knight-2565-PS 1920-21 Daimler ambulance Type UK with 16-45 hp Knight engine 1921 Mercedes Knight 16-40 hp, 16-45 hp, 16-50 hp Mercedes Knight (1910-1924) GP Mercedes 1908 Mercedes Grand Prix Racing Car 1914 1921-24 Mercedes-Benz 15-70-100 PS Typ 400 Mercedes 15/70/100 PS, 1921-1924 (became Mercedes-Benz Typ 400 with merger) Mercedes 24/100/140 PS, 1924 – 1929 (became Mercedes-Benz Typ 630 with the merger) See also the related businesses: Austro-Daimler
USA Daimler and Steinway's Daimler Motor Co.
Daimler Company (Daimler Motor Company (1896))
Mercedes-Benz cars (1926-present)
In 1926 Daimler-Benz was formed from the merger of DMG and Benz
1927 Mercedes-Benz 400 K Tourer Sinsheim, a Daimler-Benz product 1927 Mercedes Benz 630K Mercedes-Benz 630 K (1926 – 1929) 1926 Mercedes Benz 24-100-140 PS Roadster (This was the Mercedes 24/100/140 PS of DMG) Mercedes-Benz Model K
1927 mercedes benz S type 6cyl 6,78lt 180hp S-series, from 1927 with supercharged 6-cylinder engines 1927 Mercedes-Benz S-Type 26/180 Sportwagen S (Sport) 1927 26-170-225 hp Mercedes-Benz SS racing and touring sports car. SS (Super Sport)1928-32 Mercedes-Benz SSK model series W 06 II, SSK (Super Sport Kurz) 1927 Mercedes Benz SSKL (Super Sport Kurz Leicht) SSKL (Super Sport Kurz Leicht)
K (Kurz-short) 2532
Supercharged Mercedes Benz's 1920's + 1930's
SSK 1928
10/50 hp "Stuttgart" 1929
Mercedes-Benz Three Wheeler 1928 Mercedes-Benz 680S Saoutchik Torpedo
Mercedes-Benz 260D in museum in Stuttgart Mercedes Benz 130 W23 (1935) 1931 Mercedes Benz Mannheim 370 S Sport-Cabriolet Mercedes Benz Mannheim 350/370 (W10) 1929-1934 1936 Mercedes Benz 170 W28 H 170 Saloon 1931-1932 130H W23 1934
1933-34 Mercedes Benz 150 Sport Saloon (W30) 150H 1934-6 1938 Mercedes Benz W31 typ G4 W31 1934-1939 (6 wheels) Mercedes Benz 170V M135 1697cc 1935-1953
770 (Grosser) 1930-1943 in two series:
Die Eröffnung der grossen Automobilausstellung in den Ausstellungshallen am Kaiserdamm in Berlin! Der Tauerste Luxuswagen Deutschland, ein Mecedes-Limousine, welche 46.000,– Mark kostet.
1930-1938 Mercedes Benz 770 (W07) on display at the 1931 Berlin Motor Show Mercedes-Benz W07-W150 or 770 Pullman-Limousine W150 1938-1943 1934-36 Mercedes 500K (type W29) Cabriolet is a grand touring car 1939 Mercedes Benz 540K-Autobahnkurier 540K 1936-1943 1938 Mercedes benz 260D 1936-1940 1937 Mercedes-Benz 320 (W 142) Saloon was a modern luxury-class touring car. 1937 Mercedes Benz W 125 Donington W125 1937 1939 Mercedes Benz 230 Limousine 230 1938 Mercedes Benz W154, W163 1938, 1939 Mercedes-Benz W136 (170 V)
1935–1942 75,006 units 1947–1955 83,190 units Mercedes-Benz W125 Rekordwagen – 1938
1939 Mercedes-Benz T80
Production disrupted from WWII from 1939-1945, and restarted by late 1940s
Mercedes-Benz W136 1947–1955 Mercedes Benz 170S (W191) 1949-1955
Mercedes-Benz 180b, 442,963 built 1953–1962 Mercedes-Benz 190D, with post-1960 update
Mercedes-Benz W136 1947–1955 Mercedes Benz 170S (W191) 1949-1955 Mercedes Benz 120 180/180D (W120) 190/190D (W121) 1953-1962 Mercedes Benz 190SL (W121) 1955-1963
1960 Mercedes Benz 300SL Roadster (W198 II) Mercedes Benz 220 (W187) 1951-1955 Mercedes Benz 219 (W219) 1956-1959 1958 Mercedes Benz 220a/220S (W180) 1954-1959 Mercedes Benz Limousine 300/300S (W186 W189 W188) 1951-1962 Mercedes Benz W196 (W196) GP 1954 Mercedes Benz 300SLR (W196S) 1955 Mercedes Benz 300SL (W198) 1954-1963 in two series:
Gullwing Coupe 1954-1957
1969 Mercedes-Benz 280 SL 1965 Mercedes Benz 190c Sedan 1962-1965
1966 Mercedes Benz 230 W 110 in Egypte 230 1965-1966
Mercedes Benz 200 W 110 kombi 1966-1968 Mercedes Benz 200D 1966-1967 Mercedes-Benz W111/220SE 1960-1966 Mercedes Benz 250S, 250SE 300SE 280S 280SE 280SEL(W108/W109) 1965-1972 Mercedes Benz 230 1968-1972 Mercedes Benz 250 Saloon 1968-1972 Mercedes Benz 600 (W100) 1963-1981 Mercedes Benz 230SL 250SL 280SL (W113) "Pagoda" 1963-1971
Pre-facelift Mercedes-Benz W115 220 Mercedes Benz 280 (W114) 1972-1976 1975 Mercedes Benz 280C (W114) 1973-1976 Mercedes Benz 300D (W114) 1975-1976 Mercedes Benz V123 Limo (Euro-spec) W123 1976-1985 Mercedes Benz G 350 BlueTEC (W463) G-Class 1979-present 1978 Mercedes-Benz 280 SE (W116) S-Class W116 1972-1979 1957 Mercedes Benz 300 SL Roadster (W198) SL-Class 1957- 1971 Mercedes-Benz W113 W113 1963-1971 1987 Mercedes Benz 560 SL roadster (Australia) R107 1972-1989
The 1980s marked a period of increasing demand in America, personified by thousands of Grey-market imported cars, such as this Mercedes-Benz 500 SE shown here Mercedes Benz 560SEC Mercedes Benz 190E W201 190 1982-1993 1977 Mercedes Benz 300D W123 300D 1977-1985 Mercedes Benz 300CD Turbodiesel coupe (US-version) 300CD 1978-1985 Mercedes Benz 300SD 1981-1985 1987-92 Mercedes Benz 300 SEL (W126) sedan 300SEL 1987-1991 1987 Mercedes Benz 300SDL 300SDL 1986-1987 Mercedes Benz 300TD 1978-1985 1990 Mercedes Benz 350SDL 1990-1991
1985 Mercedes Benz 500SE 1984-1991 1985 Mercedes Benz 500SEC 1984-1991 1992 Mercedes Benz 500SEL 1984-1991 1986 Mercedes Benz 560SEL 1986-1991 Mercedes Benz 560SEC 1986-1991 Mercedes Benz 300E 1986-1993 Mercedes Benz 300CE 300CE 1986 – 1993 Mercedes-Benz 200E 1980-1985
2013 Mercedes Benz A 200 Sport AMG Line (W176).jpg A-Class 1997- 1997-00 Mercedes Benz C 200 (W202) Classic sedan C-Class 1993- 2000 Mercedes Benz CLK 320 (C208) Elegance coupe CLK-Class 1998- 2013 Mercedes Benz E 220 CDI Avantgarde (W 212, Facelift) E-Class 1995- M-Class 1997-2015, renamed GLE-class in 2015 2000 Mercedes Benz SL (R129) SL-Class 1989-2001 Mercedes Benz Vaneo 1997-2004 1992 Mercedes-Benz S-Class 1987–1992 Mercedes-Benz 300 SEL (W126) sedan Mercedes-Benz W126 (to ~1991) Mercedes-Benz S-Class (W140) Mercedes-Benz S-Class (W220) (1998-2005/6) see also Maybach
One standout in the MB lineup in the 21st century has been the Mercedes-Benz G-Class Mercedes-Benz SLK, 1996-2004 Mercedes-Benz M-Class, models go by ML430, ML500, etc. naming style
2014 Mercedes-Benz A 250 (W176) Sport hatchback (Australia) Mercedes-Benz A-Class 2000-04 Silver Mercedes A140 W168 side.JPG W168 2000-2004 2004-12 Mercedes Benz A 180 CDI Elegance (W 169) W169 2004-2012 Mercedes-Benz B-Class 2006-08 Mercedes-Benz B 180 CDI (W245) hatchback W245 2005-2011 Mercedes-Benz C-Class 2001–04 Mercedes-Benz C 220 CDI SportCoupé (Germany) W203 2000-2007 2008-11 Mercedes Benz CLC 200 Kompressor (CL203) coupe W204 2007-2014
2015 Mercedes Benz C 220 BlueTEC Exclusive (W 205) Mercedes-Benz CL-Class
2000-06 Mercedes Benz CL Class W215 2000-2006 2007-14 Mercedes Benz CL 500 Sport-Paket AMG (C 216) W216 2007-
1997-09 Mercedes Benz CLK Cabriolet (A209)
2004-present Mercedes-Benz CLS 350 BlueEFFICIENCY-series EDITION I C 218
Mercedes-Benz E-Class 1998–03 Mercedes-Benz E 240 (W210) Elegance sedan W210 1995-2002
2009 Mercedes E-Klasse S 400 Hybrid Avantgarde (W211).jpg W211 2003-2009
2009-present Mercedes Benz E 220 CDI Avantgarde (W 212, Facelift) W212 2009-
2012 Mercedes Benz G 63 AMG.JPG Mercedes-Benz G-Class 2000-
2010 Mercedes Benz GL 450 CDI 4MATIC (X164) Mercedes-Benz GL-Class X164 2007-
1998-01 Mercedes Benz ML 320 (W163) wagon Mercedes-Benz M-Class W163 1998-2005
2007-08 Mercedes Benz ML 320 CDI (W164 MY08) wagon W164 2006-2011
2011-present Mercedes Benz ML 350 BlueTEC 4MATIC (W 166) W166 2011-
2008 Mercedes Benz R320CDI L AMG-Sportpaket.JPG R-Class 2006- Mercedes-Benz S-Class
Mercedes Benz S-Class (W220) 1999-2005 2011 Mercedes Benz S-Class (W221)S 320 CDI 4MATIC L (V 221) 2006-2013
2014 Mercedes Benz S550 W 222 (US) lwb W222 2014- Mercedes-Benz SLK-ClassR171 2005-2010 1998 Mercedes Benz SLK R170.jpg 1998-2004 2013 Mercedes Benz SL 550 vf 7-spd automatic.jpg Mercedes-Benz SL-Class 2001- 2006-08 Mercedes Benz SL 350 (R230) roadster 5th gen.jpg 2006 Mercedes-Benz SLR-McLaren 2003-2009722 Edition 2006-2009 Mercedes Benz SLR McLaren 722 Roadster variant
A CLA-clas in Düsseldorf; version CLA 200. This new smaller class featured front-wheel drive and a lowered financial barrier to a new Mercedes product
2011 Mercedes Benz SLS AMG C 197 2010-2013 2013 Mercedes-Benz CLA 200-Class C 117 2010-2013 2014 Mercedes Benz GLA 200 CDI Urban (X 156) 2013 Mercedes Benz SL 550 R231 vf 7spd-automatic R231.jpg
In the 2015 renaming several existing product lines were renamed
GLK-class to GLC-class
M-class to GLE-class
GL-class to GLS-class
Name change of Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG to Mercedes-AMG C63 in 2014.
B-Class Electric Drive introduced (Special version of existing B-Class with no piston engine)
Mercedes-Benz SUVs
2014 G-Class G63 AMG 6×6 2012 Mercedes-Benz M-Class ML 250 BlueTEC 4MATIC (W 166) Mercedes-Benz M-Class Mercedes Benz G 350 BlueTEC (W463) Mercedes-Benz G-Class 2013 Mercedes Benz G 63 AMG Brabus B63S 700 6×6 G63 AMG 6×6 (2013–2015)
Mercedes-Benz G 500 4×4² in off-road test Mercedes-Benz G500 4×4² 2012 Mercedes Benz GL 350 BlueTEC 4MATIC Sport-Paket AMG (X 166) Mercedes-Benz GL-Class 2014 Mercedes Benz GLK 220 CDI 4MATIC Sport-Paket AMG (X 204, Facelift) Mercedes-Benz GLK-Class
Post 2015 naming restructure: Mercedes Benz GLA-Class 2016 Mercedes Benz GLC 220 d 4MATIC AMG Line (X 253) Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class 2013 Mercedes-Benz GLE ML 350 BlueTEC 4MATIC (W 166) Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class GLE-Coupe 2014 Mercedes Benz GL 500 4MATIC (X 166) Mercedes-Benz GLS-Class
Mercedes-Benz MB100, produced 1981-1995
Mercedes-Benz Citan (2012)
Mercedes-Benz L 319 1955-1967 – mid-sized van from 3,5 to 3,9 tonnes GVWR
Mercedes-Benz T2 1967-1986 – heavy Van from 3,5 to 6,79 tonnes GVWR – 1967 Mercedes Benz O309 Mercedes-Benz O309 – busvariant of T2
Mercedes-Benz TN or T1 1977-1995 – mid-sized van from 2,55 to 4,6 tonnes GVWR, predecessor to the sprinter 1981-95 Mercedes-Benz MB100-180 – mid-sized van from 2,65 to 3,5 tonnes GVWR Mercedes Benz T1 Transporter 1975 Mercedes Benz N1300 first DKW F1000 L with 3 cyl 981cc 2 stroke DKW engine later with MB1300 Diesel 1981-87 Mercedes-Benz MB 100 spanish generación 1988-95 Mercedes Benz MB 100 ca. 207.000 Stück 1996-03 First Mercedes Benz Vito W638 Vclass 560.000st( (2013)2003-14 2nd Mercedes Benz Vito(Viano) W/V 639 2014 3rd Mercedes Benz Vito W447 V-class 1970-77 Mercedes Benz L206 Harburger Transporter first Hanomag-Henschel 305.000 1977-95 Mercedes Benz 207D T1 (601+602 ca. 970.000) 1995-05 Mercedes Benz Sprinter 616CDI 156hp Ambulance (1.3000.000) 2006-present Mercedes Benz Sprinter W/V 906 1956-67 ca. 140.000 Mercedes Benz L 319-L 405(diesel) + L 407(petrol) 1967-86 ca. 540.000 Mercedes Benz T2 first generation 1986-96 138.407 Mercedes Benz T2 2nd gen. 1996-13 90.743 Mercedes Benz Vario 815D
All other previous models on the German Wikipedia
Mercedes-Benz Vito – light van based on the Viano MPV with a payload of approx 1 tonne
Mercedes-Benz Metris in the United States
Mercedes-Benz Sprinter – mid-sized van, based on a joint venture with the Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles Crafter, with payloads of 2 to 6 tonne. Also produced as a Dodge in USA and Canada with the name FreightlinerSprinter.
Sprinter 414 416CDI – ambulance
Sprinter 316CDI – light ambulance
Mercedes-Benz Vario 1996-2013 – heavy van from 3,5 to 7,5 tonnes GVWR
Mercedes-Benz C112 (1991)
Mercedes-Benz Bionic inspired by nature, in particular the yellow boxfish resulting a high volume to low drag ratio (2005)
Yellow boxfish
F700 concept car (2007)
Mercedes-Benz C111 – sports car and test vehicle for different high performance engines (wankel engine and later diesel engines) shown in 1969, 1970 and 1978,1979
Mercedes-Benz Schulz Studie CW311 (1979)
Mercedes-Benz Auto 2000 – four-door saloon shown in 1981 Frankfurt Auto Show
Mercedes-Benz NAFA – microcar, 1982
Mercedes-Benz C112 – sports car and development mule developed in 1991 Mercedes-Benz F 100 – car introduced in 1991 North American International Auto Show
Mercedes-Benz Coupe Concept – car introduced in 1993 Geneva Motor Show
Mercedes Benz S500 Shooting Break
Mercedes Benz SLK 2 (1994)
Mercedes-Benz Vision A93 Concept – small city car, preview of 1997 A-Class
Mercedes-Benz Vario Research Car – one car, four vehicles, introduced in 1995 Geneva Motor Show Mercedes-Benz F 200 Imagination – two-door coupé introduced in 1996 Paris Motor Show, preview of 1999 S-Class (W220)
Mercedes-Benz F 300 Life Jet – three-wheel car/motorcycle unveiled in 1997 Frankfurt Motor Show
Mercedes-Benz Vision SLR – prototype of Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren, unveiled in 1999 North American International Auto Show Mercedes-Benz Vision SLA – convertible with details of the SLR, but based on the A-Class platform, unveiled in 2000 North American International Auto Show Mercedes-Benz Vision GST – car shown in 2002 North American International Auto Show, preview of R-Class Mercedes-Benz Vision CLS 2003
Mercedes-Benz F 400 Carving – a two-seat roadster unveiled in 2002 Tokyo Motor Show
Mercedes Benz F 500 Mind – four-door fastback saloon unveiled in 2003 Tokyo Motor Show
Mercedes-Benz F 600 HYGENIUS – compact fuel cell car, unveiled in 2005 Tokyo Motor Show Mercedes-Benz Bionic – car unveiled in 2005 DaimlerChrysler Innovation Symposium in Washington, modeled after boxfish Mercedes-Benz Ocean Drive – a four-door convertible based on the S600, shown in 2007 https://myntransportblog.files.wordpress.com/2016/03/mercedes-benz_f700.ogg Mercedes-Benz F700 – large luxury saloon featuring the small capacity / high output DiesOtto engine, unveiled at the 2007 Frankfurt Motor Show. Mercedes-Benz Concept FASCINATION – shooting-brake giving a preview of the 2010 E-Class (W212), unveiled at 2008 Paris Motor Show Mercedes-Benz S 400 BlueHYBRID 2010 Mercedes-Benz BlueZERO (2009) Mercedes-Benz F-Cell Roadster – open two-seater roadster, 2009 Mercedes-Benz F 800 Style – four-door sedan shown in 2010 Geneva Motor Show
Mercedes-Benz BIOME
Mercedes-Benz BlitzenBenz (2010) Mercedes-Benz F 125 – experimental luxury vehicle shown in 2011 2011 Mercedes Benz Silver Lightning Mercedes Benz Silver Lightning (2011)
Mercedes-Benz Unimog Concept (2011)
Mercedes-Benz Ener-G-Force (2012)
Mercedes-Benz Concept GLA SUV
Mercedes-Benz AMG Vision Grand Turismo (2013)
SF1 Mercedes-Benz Concept Car
Mercedes Benz Vision G-Code
Mercedes-Benz Intelligent Aerodynamic Automobile
Mercedes-Benz F1015
Mercedes-Benz G500 4×4^2 Showcar
Mercedes-Benz G500 4×4² (2015)
Street CLK GTR in Romania
Mercedes-Benz CLR at Nürburgring
See Mercedes-Benz in motorsport
Willhelm Bauer's Daimler racer
Jellinek' Daimler 35 PS Mercedes
Blitzen Benz 1909, achieved 226.91 km/h (141.94 mph) in November 1909
Benz Tropfenwagen (tear-drop) 1923
Mercedes-Benz SSK Rennwagen version (1928 to 1932)
Mercedes-Benz W125 Rekordwagen – 1937
Mercedes-Benz T80 – experimental racing car developed for high speed in 1939
Sauber Mercedes-Benz C9 – 1987
Mercedes-Benz CLK GTR – racing car primarily, 25 production cars made to meet regulation
Mercedes-Benz CLR (1999)
Mercedes-Benz C-Coupé DTM (2011)
Mercedes-Benz AMG C-Class DTM (W203)
Mercedes-Benz 300SEL 6.3
Silver Arrows
Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR (W196S)
Mercedes-Benz W25
A Mercedes-Benz F1 race car 2012 Mercedes F1 W03 2013 Mercedes F1 W04 Lewis Hamilton Malaysia FP2 1.jpg 2014 The F1 W05 Hybrid, driven by Lewis Hamilton, during the 2014 Singapore Grand Prix 2015 The F1 W06 Hybrid, driven by Nico Rosberg, during the 2015 Malaysian Grand Prix
Mercedes F1 W07 Hybrid
Mercedes MGP W01
Including really big trucks for trailer aka semi's
The chart of Mercedes-Benz truck models (including the internal designations), 1926-1944. Horizontally: years of production Vertically: payload in tons (approximately) Yellow boxes: L1/L2/L5 family, Light-blue boxes: Lo2000 family, White boxes: the rest.
The first Mercedes-Benz truck range, presented at the 1926 Berlin Motor Show (October) and at the 1927 International Motor Show for Trucks and Special Vehicles in Cologne (May) included three basic models with the payloads of 1.5, 2.5 and 5 tons. Each model was available with a standard and a low-frame chassis. Low chassis made sense especially that time to make easier loading and unloading of the vehicle. Also the low chassis has been used to build the buses. The models with the standard chassis were L1, L2 and L5 (L stood for Lastwagen, German word for a truck, and the digit stood for the rated payload in tons). The models with the low chassis were N1, N2 and NJ5/N5 (N stood for Niederwagen, German word means a low car). The trucks were equipped with the 4 cylinders petrol engines (M14, M2 and M5), developing 45HP, 55HP and 70 HP. Mercedes-Benz L1 and L2 were the new models, but Mercedes-Benz L5 truck was basically a continuation of famous Benz 5CN truck, which was developed before the merge of Benz & Cie and Daimler-Motoren-Gesellschaft companies.
In 1927 Mercedes-Benz presented its first diesel engine (OM5), which immediately became a sensation. It was the world's first six-cylinder diesel engine, installed on the commercial vehicle. Also from 1927 Mercedes-Benz offered the more powerful 6 cylinders petrol engines (M16, M26 and M36) developing 50HP, 70HP and 100 HP. Four cylinders engines were discontinued only one year later. Therefore, in 1927-1928 most of the trucks from the series L1,L2,L5 were available with 4 or 6 cylinders engines. To distinguish that, 6 cylinders versions of the trucks were referred sometimes as, for example, L1/6 or N2/6.
In 1927-1928 Mercedes-Benz also expanded the range of the truck models, adding the small model L3/4 with the payload of 750 kg (3/4 ton), which was developed from the passenger car Typ 200 Nürnberg, and a heavy three axis model N56 with the payload 7-9 tons. The payloads of L1 and L2 models was increased with the new 6 cylinder engines from 1.5 to 1.75 tons (model L1/N1) and from 2.5 to 3.0-4.0 tons (model L2/N2). To fill the newly formed gap between L1 and L2 models, Mercedes-Benz offered new 2.5 tons model L45/N46 and (a bit later) 2.75/3.0 tons model L57/N58.
Resulting diversity of the trucks made an impressive lineup of Mercedes-Benz commercial vehicles, but also required a new, better system for their designations. In fact, by the year of 1930, only the model L5 still referred to its payload (5 tons). L1 model's payload has been gradually increased up to 2 tons, L2 model's payload – up to 4 tons, and L45/N46 and L57/N58 model names were not saying about their payload at all from the beginning, but were rather the company's internal model designations. So in October 1930 a new system for the commercial vehicle designation has been introduced. Basically, instead of the one digit, standing for the rated payload in tons, a four digits number, standing for the rated payload in kg, has now been used. This number followed the same letter L for the trucks (as before), or the letters Lo (LO) for the low chassis, or the letter O for the buses (O stood for the German word Omnibus, what is translated as a bus). According to that, the model L1 was renamed to L2000, model L45 was renamed to L2500, model L57 was renamed to L3000, model L2 was renamed to L4000, model L5 was renamed to L5000 and the model N56 was renamed to L8500. This nomenclature has been used for more than 20 years, until 1954.
The chart of Mercedes-Benz truck models (including the internal designations), 1945-1970. Horizontally: years of production Vertically: payload in tons (approximately) Grey boxes: L4500/L5000 family, White boxes: L3500/L4500 family, Dark-grey boxes: L6600 family, Green boxes: Kurzhauber (light) family, Blue boxes: Kurzhauber (heavy) family, Pink boxes: Kubische kabine (light) family, Purple boxes: Kubische kabine (medium) family.
Mercedes-Benz SK (Schwere Klasse)
Mercedes-Benz Leichtlastwagen MB 700. Dieser Lastwagen geht bei der indonesischen Beteiligungsgesellschaft "P.T. German Motor Manufacturing" in Jakarta 1994 in Serienproduktion.
Mercedes-Benz MB700 (coe)
Mercedes-Benz MB800 (Built by Mercedes-Benz Türk since 1996, this five-ton cab-over truck uses an Indonesian cabin, a Brazilian engine, and a Spanish transmission)
Mercedes-Benz Arocs 6×6 Pre facelift 1997 Mercedes Benz Atego


JOYETECH CUBIS BOTTOM FEEDING TANK ATOMIZER COMES WITH AN INNOVATIVE AND LEAK RESISTANT CUP DESIGN ENSURES NO-SPILL. DETACHABLE AND WASHABLE STRUCTURE MAKES IT EASIER AND MORE EFFICIENT TO OPERATE. WITH INVISIBLE AIRFLOW CONTROL AND TOTALLY IMPORTED SS316 HEAD, SUPPORTING DUAL MODES.


San Manuel Village is a 12 acre mixed-use development project located in the City of Highland, California.
This commercial real estate investment project has developed land near the San Manuel reservation into a property that includes a hotel and conference center, restaurants, retail space, and offices.
The tribe's plans for the development is to provide local business and retailers with a convenient, easily accessible, highly visible location to conduct profitable commerce and provide needed goods and services to the local community.
The Tribe's latest economic development Bear Springs Hotel is the Inland Empire's newest full service hotel, offering a luxury, boutique experience nestled in the foothills of the San Bernardino Mountains along the 330 Hwy serving as the gateway to the mountain resorts.
This property offers 105 guest rooms, including 30 spacious studios, plus amenities, such as a restaurant, bar, lounge, outdoor terrace with a pool, Jacuzzi, and a cozy fire pit. Guests can also enjoy 24 hour in-room dining, free Wi-Fi and parking.
Bear Springs is an integral part of San Manuel Village providing over 100 jobs and creating new business opportunities benefiting the economies of local cities and San Bernardino County.
Bear Springs Hotel is located at 27959 Highland Ave.
For more information, call 833-258-4745 or visit www.bearspringshotel.com.
The San Manuel Band of Serrano Mission Indians seeks out business opportunities that will assist in their pursuit of economic diversification and allow them to provide their members with a sound future.


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Real Michael Pulman
Blogs & Podcasts From Michael Pulman
Poor Serena Williams exits Auckland with lame excuses
By realmichaelpulman January 5, 2017
Leave a Comment on Poor Serena Williams exits Auckland with lame excuses
Farewell Serena, thanks for an entertaining few days. We look forward to seeing you in the future.
When World No.79 Madison Brengle beat Serena Williams early last evening, the ASB Classic was brought to its knees. Two of the big names, the Williams sisters, are now booking their flights out of the country.
Prior to Serena's loss, her older sister Venus was forced to withdraw from the tournament with an injury to her right arm.
The World No.2, Serena, wasn't nursing any injury however, she was just poor. Some pundits are speculating that Williams' early exit from the ASB Classic is due to her focus on the Australian Open in Melbourne, the first Grand Slam of the year.
Williams herself blamed the conditions at Stanley Street for her shocking form. In a match that included 88 unforced errors, Williams couldn't contend with the windy conditions, and it clearly had an impact on all aspects of her usually outstanding standard of tennis.
During the post-match press conference, Williams admitted that winning a game of tennis was next to impossible with such a dismal performance.
I never got in my rhythm, I've never returned like that in my life, but I can take solace in the fact that conditions won't be like this in Melbourne.
Williams labelled the windy conditions in Auckland as "way too much", but one must question her preparation, given the fact that she had numerous practices in the conditions since arriving in Auckland.
When questions about her preparation were posed, Williams quickly ended the press conference. She didn't want to talk any further about was the worst game of her career.
I've got a number of issues with the things Williams said following her shock loss in the Second Round.
Firstly, Williams is World No.2 in women's tennis, her pedigree is far better than what showed in Auckland. 88 unforced errors and 5 Set Point opportunities lost is simply not good enough, for any player on the tour, especially Williams who has amassed countless Grand Slam ant WTA titles over her career.
Secondly, her comments to the media which slammed the venue's conditions could do some serious harm to the future draw of the ASB Classic. Yes, the wind was blustery, but it didn't appear to hamper the efforts of youngster Naomi Osaka, or even Kiwi wildcard Jade Lewis.
Tennis Auckland has secured 60% of its funding target toward a roof at the venue, but you really got the feeling that Williams won't be returning to Auckland anytime soon.
For the first time in the tournaments history, tickets for the women's final was sold out days in advance. Williams was the reason for this, but clearly, and perhaps realistically, the ASB Classic was just a warm up for the Australian Open. Of course, we understand that, and no sports performer is ever perfect, but what we saw from Williams in Auckland was below average.
For an athlete of her pedigree, blustery wind is the weakest excuse for such an early departure.
Tags: ASB Classic Jade Lewis Madison Brengle Serena Williams Serena Williams loses Venus Williams WTA Tour Tennis
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ABC plans Beauty And The Beast pilot
On the heels of the CW planned Beauty And The Beast series, ABC gives the go-ahead for their own retelling
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Family gets superpowers.
Lost finishing third in its timeslot
Show struggling against other network hits.
ABC reduces episode orders
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ABC declines more Eastwick
Network orders extra crime drama instead.
Lost in Wisteria Lane
In an amusingly fresh move, US TV network ABC has combined the stars of its biggest shows for a new series of advertisements, the first of which sees Desperate Housewives' Teri Hatcher (formerly one half of Lois & Clark) co-habit a Wisteria Lane-style house with Lost's Matthew Fox. In the advert, the two stars are … Continued
V remake clips online
The first clips from the upcoming remake of V from ABC have appeared on the internet and are available to view below, courtesy of The Hollywood Reporter's James Hibberd.
Flash Forward flashes forwards
Ex-Eli Stone executive producer Marc Guggenheim has also been attached to the project as an executive producer alongside the two already in place, and will serve as a showrunner. The news of a pickup for the series was widely anticipated even before last week, which saw a viral marketing campaign begin in an episode of Lost aired in the United States.
New season slates
News has been rolling in thick and fast about which shows will be returning and which have been canned on the US networks in this upcoming season. For more information, see our easy-to-use list below. Pick ups: True Blood (HBO) – Debuting in the autumn, this show follows the coexistence of humans and vampires in … Continued
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Winter camp is just around the corner! Avalanche 2019 is going to be one for history books. This weekend in February will be a time for students to get away from everyday life and encounter God, connect with each other, and have fun. We will be back at one of our favorite locations: Camp Shamineau in Motley, MN. We've got a great line-up of guest speakers: Heath Adamson (speaker and advocate who is currently an emerging author and serving as Chief of Staff at the relief organization, Convoy of Hope) and Tara Hollingsworth (a youth pastor at an inner-city church in Minneapolis). Plus we have a great worship team and lots of fun in store. This is a weekend that your students won't want to miss. And guess what - registration is now open!
Empowered to reach those away from God, grow in faith, and live a life of purpose.


Home › About the IELTS Exam › IELTS Frequently Asked Questions › Is it Possible to Cheat on the IELTS?
Is it possible to cheat on the IELTS? The most likely answer is "no." IELTS test centres have strict security rules that make cheating almost impossible.
Is it possible to cheat on the IELTS by bringing in a "cheat sheet"?
This would be you if you decide to cheat.
Sneaking a copy of the IELTS answers into a test centre is not possible. The questions seen on test day are not published anywhere else beforehand. So there is no way to get an actual answer key before one sits the IELTS.
Some would-be cheaters might consider bringing in a vocabulary guide or grammar rules. This too is regarded as cheating, and test centres take measures against this practice. IELTS test-takers must empty their pockets before they enter the testing room to sit their exam. And of course, books and notepads are not allowed either. Not only that, but hats, scarves, and heavy jackets may not be worn in the testing room. This makes it very difficult to hide any pieces of paper containing tips and tricks for better IELTS performance.
Even if a test-taker is able to secretly bring an illegal item into the test centre in spite of security, actually using this information would be difficult. Test centre staff regularly move about the test stations and monitor test-takers. If an IELTS test-taker pulls out a cell phone or piece of paper, they're likely to get caught.
Is it possible to cheat on the IELTS by sending someone else to take the exam for you?
The IELTS has also taken measures against test center identity fraud. People who take the IELTS must submit a copy of government-issued photo identification when they register for the exam. This identification must be presented again on test day. The officials at the testing site will carefully at the identification and at the face of the actual test-taker to make sure there's a match. Then the test-taker's photo will be taken right at the IELTS centre. After the IELTS is completed, the test day photo will be forwarded to an IELTS security office, where it will be carefully compared to the face on the government ID that was used for IELTS registry.
If you clicked this article, hopefully you are simply curious about IELTS security, and are not actually thinking of cheating on the IELTS exam. If you are thinking of cheating, I strongly advise against it. With the IELTS test's tough security rule, even trying to cheat would be a lot of work, and you would probably be caught.
It would be less work to simply study for the exam and do your best when you sit for it.


Volunteering at WTIP is a great way to give back to the community. WTIP is a non-profit community radio station, and everything we do is for our listeners. By volunteering at WTIP, you will help bring a valuable service to the community.
Volunteering can be quick and easy. There are many ways to help that don't require a large time commitment.
WTIP is worth the time invested. Our volunteers see the importance of their work reflected back every day as listeners tune in to the community service.
Volunteering is a great way to get involved, it's a great way to gain new experience, and it's fun!
What sort of time commitment is required to volunteer at WTIP?
Give a little or give a lot – it all means a lot to us.
The amount of time you invest is really up to you. We suggest giving it a try and seeing what fits well for you in your life.
What sort of volunteer opportunities are there?
There are a wide variety of volunteer opportunities available at WTIP.
You bring the talent and enthusiasm, we'll provide the training, and together we'll keep the great community asset thriving!
Sports – anything from calling in scores to live broadcasts.
Writing – anything from writing daily public service announcements to occasional articles.
Research – anything from researching your favorite musicians to researching historical events.
News and public affairs – anything from being a volunteer news reporter to providing commentaries on local and regional issues.
On-air hosts – anything from several on-air hours per week to occasional fill-in spots.
Office – anything from data entry to distributing flyers.
Technical – anything from setting up remote broadcasts to editing sound clips.
Fundraising – anything from marketing to answering phones during membership drives.
Special events – anything from helping to organize an event to bringing a WTIP presence to events.
Other – Bring us your ideas!


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Q: Restarting the Spark Context I'm running a Jupyter-spark setup and I want to benchmark my cluster with different input parameters. To make sure the enivorment stays the same I'm trying to reset(restart) the SparkContext, here is some pseudo code:
import os
import shutil
import pyspark

temp_result_parquet = os.path.normpath('/home/spark_tmp_parquet')
i = 0

while i < max_i:
    i += 1
    if os.path.exists(temp_result_parquet):
        shutil.rmtree(temp_result_parquet) # I know I could simply overwrite the parquet

    My_DF = do_something(i)
    My_DF.write.parquet(temp_result_parquet)

    sc.stop()
    time.sleep(10)
    sc = pyspark.SparkContext(master='spark://ip:here', appName='PySparkShell')

when I do this the first iteration it runs fine but in the second I get the following error:
Py4JJavaError: An error occurred while calling o1876.parquet.
: org.apache.spark.SparkException: Job aborted.
[...]
Caused by: java.lang.IllegalStateException: SparkContext has been shutdown
    at org.apache.spark.SparkContext.runJob(SparkContext.scala:2014)
    at org.apache.spark.sql.execution.datasources.FileFormatWriter$$anonfun$write$1.apply$mcV$sp(FileFormatWriter.scala:188)

I tried running the code without the SparkContext restart but this results in memory issues. So to wipe the slate clean before every iteration I'm trying this. With the weird result that parquet thinks SparkContext is down.

A: Long story short, Spark (including PySpark) is not designed to handle multiple contexts in a single application. If you're interested in JVM side of the story I would recommend reading SPARK-2243 (resolved as won't fix).
There is a number of design decisions made in PySpark which reflects that including, but not limited to a singleton Py4J gateway. Effectively you cannot have multiple SparkContexts in a single application. SparkSession is not only bound to SparkContext but also introduces problems of its own, like handling local (standalone) Hive metastore if one is used. Moreover there functions which use SparkSession.builder.getOrCreate internally and depend on the behavior you see right now. A notable example is UDF registration. Other functions may exhibit unexpected behavior if multiple SQL contexts are present (for example RDD.toDF).
Multiple contexts are not only unsupported but also, in my personal opinion, violate single responsibility principle. Your business logic shouldn't be concerned with all the setup, cleanup and configuration details.
Source

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