This Week:

• Cadillac To Launch All-New Northstar LMP In 2002
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• Porsche establishes first engineering subsidiary in the Czech Republic
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• DaimlerChrysler Begins Construction of Center of Excellence at the Sindelfingen Plant
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• Saturn Selects Name For New Small Cars
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• Manufacturing Locations Of GM Europe Begin Discussion Of Key Olympia Initiatives With Local Employee Representation
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• BMW Reports Increase In September Sales
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• Renault unveils Ublo, an innovative alternative to the motor scooter
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• Leader in Wireless Supply Chain Visibility Polls Nearly 150 Respondents
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• DaimlerChrysler to Sell Mitsubishi’s Canter Light-duty Truck
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• BMW Chooses Dana to Supply Drive Units
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News of  October 10, 2001

DaimlerChrysler Begins Construction of Center of Excellence at the Sindelfingen Plant

• Competence center for Maybach luxury car brand customers
• Investment volume of around EUR 10 million
• Completion in summer 2002

Stuttgart / Sindelfingen - On Monday, DaimlerChrysler officially began construction of a new “Center of Excellence” for the luxury Maybach brand at its Sindelfingen plant. The new building, which is a 2,200-sq. meter extension to the Mercedes-Benz Customer Center at the site, involves an investment of approximately EUR 10 million and is expected to be completed next summer.

The Center of Excellence will house the Maybach atelier as well as serving as the location for handing over Maybach vehicles to customers.

Daimler Chrysler will also be the first automaker to offer a unique special service: Maybach brand customers who cannot come to Sindelfingen themselves will be able to participate in video conferences with staff at the new Center of Excellence. Special Maybach sales centers around the world will be equipped for such conferencing, allowing customers to obtain answers to all their questions concerning purchasing and special equipment and accessories.

Personal consulting, customization for the most demanding requirements

Providing intensive consulting services for customers is a top priority at Maybach. In order to meet even the most demanding requirements, each customer will be provided with individual consulting from their own “personal liaison manager” (PLM). Rather than being selected from catalogues containing various equipment options, the vehicles purchased will be the product of extensive discussions between customer and consultant at the Center of Excellence, after which they will be manufactured at the Maybach facility.

“The decision to set up the Center of Excellence with the individual customer consulting services in Sindelfingen was an easy one,“ says Dr. Joachim Schmidt, member of the divisional board of management responsible for Sales and Marketing of Mercedes-Benz Passenger Cars and Maybach. “After all, Sindelfingen is the home of Maybach development and production and also the home of Mercedes-Benz production. The proximity of the Center of Excellence to production facilities forms the perfect basis for providing optimal consulting services and meeting individual requirements through dialog between the customer and production specialists. Moreover, this concept corresponds to the expectations of our customers, discussions with whom have shown that they are very much in favor of individual consultation and inspection of their premium vehicle as it goes through the production process.”

New luxury brand with a long tradition

The name Maybach is steeped in tradition and is now being employed for the new DaimlerChrysler luxury brand. The new Maybach limousine will be presented for the first time next fall.

The name Maybach was already closely connected with the Mercedes brand back in the early 20th century. Wilhelm Maybach was the technical director of the Daimler-Motoren-Gesellschaft and worked together with Gottlieb Daimler for many years. In 1900, Maybach developed the first Mercedes, which was a milestone in vehicle engineering at the time and which also paved the way for all modern passenger cars. Maybach’s son Karl began producing luxury automobiles with high quality engineering in the German town of Friedrichshafen in 1921. In the 1930s, Maybach brand vehicles were considered synonymous with excellent quality and exclusive style. The flagship model was the 12-cylinder Maybach Zeppelin DS 8, which was the biggest German luxury car in the 1930s. Maybach bodies were built by renowned German specialist companies according to individual customer demands and every Maybach was uniquely designed according to the wishes of its owner.

Technological leadership and innovation

The close relationship between Maybach and Mercedes continues today, not least through the new luxury brand’s emphasis on technological leadership and innovation alongside individuality, attractive appearance and precision engineering. Maybach vehicles are developed by Mercedes engineers in Sindelfingen, meaning that the new brand benefits from a smooth transfer of expertise. Maybach also offers Mercedes quality when it comes to safety, reliability, and durability.

Maybach customers can choose between two body variants. The long-wheelbase chauffeur limousine offers them unparalleled spaciousness and exemplary comfort, including individual, reclinable back seats, making for an even more relaxing journey.

The vehicle is powered by a newly developed 5.5-liter, V12 bi-turbo engine delivering approximately 400kW. The result is superior engine performance at a high level of comfort.

(Oct. 08, 2001)

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