This Week:

• BUGATTI Automobiles S.A.S. established
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• Toyota to Introduce New Fuel Cell Hybrid Vehicle at International Symposium
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• Mercedes-Benz Vaneo: Mercedes mini-MPV to make its world debut at the Frankfurt International Motor Show
  .

• PSA Peugeot Citroën, Renault and France's CNAM Agree to Jointly Invest in Land Vehicle Aerodynamics and Aeroacoustics
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• Ford Names Codina to Key Marketing Position
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• Audi A4 in Euro NCAP crash test
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• GM: Palopoli Announces Retirement, Boggs Appointed GM Manufacturing Manager, Ponce Named Manager At Detroit-Hamtramck Assembly Plant
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• BMW presents current Telematic projects at CeBIT 
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• Telefónica MoviStar And Repsol YPF: The two official SEAT Sport teams for 2001 
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• Volvo Advances Car Safety With National Instruments Software; Engineers at State-of-the-Art
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• AutoWeek Award for Opel Astra Coupé OPC X-TREME
  .

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News of  March 07, 2001

Mercedes-Benz Vaneo: Mercedes mini-MPV to make its world debut at the Frankfurt International Motor Show

• First premium-class product in the high-growth mini-MPV segment
• Superior spaciousness despite compact exterior dimensions
• Adaptable Vaneo will allow DaimlerChrysler to win new customers
• Three design and equipment lines for innovative flexibility

Vaneo

Photo: Mercedes-Benz

Stuttgart – At the Frankfurt International Motor Show (IAA), to be held from September 13 to 23, 2001, Mercedes-Benz will be bringing out a premium-class mini-MPV. Though its roadspace requirements are frugal, at just 4.2 metres long, the Mercedes-Benz Vaneo is impressively spacious. Three design and equipment lines – "Trend", "Family", "Ambiente" – and environment-friendly petrol and diesel engines will offer customers a wide range of choice right from the launch date. The intelligent adaptability of the Vaneo will win over target groups whose requirements of a modern mini-MPV are demanding and varied in terms of family, sport and leisure applications and meeting changing day-to-day transport needs.

Extensive market research and car clinics carried out by DaimlerChrysler revealed that future mini-MPV buyers are looking above all for a multifunctional vehicle that falls outside traditional categories. Based on this they have come up with a vehicle whose strong interior qualities are packaged in a dynamic and appealing exterior. 4.2 metres long on the outside, the Vaneo has room inside for up to five adults and two children; alternatively, the interior can be configured to provide load space of up to 3,000 litres – unsurpassed in this segment. The excellently designed seat layout, two wide-opening sliding doors and a tailgate provide unimpeded access to the large interior, while the optionally available, pull-out load compartment floor makes loading even easier. Rounding off the Vaneo concept is an extensive range of standard-specification safety features which draw amongst other things on the advantages of the proven sandwich-design body.

Vaneo will allow DaimlerChrysler to reach out to new target groups

With the Vaneo, DaimlerChrysler is aiming to win over new target groups to the Mercedes-Benz brand, primarily and above all practically-minded families with two or more children but also leisure-oriented young couples without children, or singles who need a vehicle with large amounts of space. Typical potential customers have in the past shown a preference for compact estate cars or classic MPVs. The market research carried out by DaimlerChrysler shows that for use with a family, plus pet, and for hobby and leisure pursuits, well-planned, multi-functional solutions are required. A state-of-the-art mini-MPV must also be able to carry as many people as safely and as comfortably as possible.

Excellent growth prospects in the mini-MPV market

The Vaneo will be built in Ludwigsfelde. Mercedes-Benz is investing € 500 million in production and development, some of this at the Ludwigsfelde plant south of Berlin. Based on current projections, DaimlerChrysler will be selling approximately 50,000 units of this model annually.

The European mini-MPV market is expected to grow by approximately 46% between 1999 and 2003, from 486,000 units to 710,000 units. In Germany, some 115,000 of these vehicles were sold in 1999. Experts expect that by 2003 the market here will have grown by 56%, to 180,000 units.

(Feb. 26, 2001)

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