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Mercedes-Benz
Mercedes Presents Its First Extended Range EV
By Scott Doggett September 14, 2011Mercedes-Benz is presented its first range-extending electric vehicle (think Chevy Volt) at the 2011 Frankfurt Auto Show on Tuesday. The plug-in hybrid (PHEV) Concept B-Class E-Cell Plus is a five-seat compact hatchback that uses a gasoline-engine and a lithium-ion battery pack to provide 60 miles of electric-only driving before the 3-cylinder engine starts up, enabling another 300 miles of range before refueling. Mercedes said the concept compact provides a foretaste of a series that will go into production in 2014. The B-Class PHEV powertrain has peak power output of 134 horsepower, and a continuous output 94 hp via the more
Smart Takes Second Stab At U.S. Market
By Dale Buss August 30, 2011The new team running Smart USA for Daimler AG believes that Americans have been shunning the Smart ForTwo mini-car not for what they know about it but for what they don’t know about it. So, launching a major, national, traditional marketing campaign for Smart sometime this fall will be the most important order for business for the new team of executives who have been running the operation since the German automaker took over U.S. responsibilities for its Smart brand from Penske Automotive Group last month. “You very rarely get a second chance to make a first impression, but this more
Daimler Earnings Rise
By Michelle Krebs July 27, 2011Daimler AG reported Wednesday a 29-percent increase in its second-quarter net profit fueled by strong demand for trucks and luxury cars. The German automaker, which sells Mercedes-Benz vehicles, smart cars and trucks, said the quarter was among the best in company history. Daimler’s net profit set a new record amounting 1,704 million Euro ($2.3 billion). Revenue rose 5 percent. Its all-important EBIT, earnings before interest and expense, climbed to a record 2.58 billion Euro ($3.73 billion) from 2.1 billion a year ago. “Daimler developed very dynamically in the second quarter in terms of unit sales, revenue and earnings," said more
Mercedes Advances Fuel-Cell Launch Date to 2014
By Danny King June 24, 2011Mercedes-Benz, confident that it has overcome the technological hurdles to fielding a fuel-cell electric car, plans to advance the retail launch date for its hydrogen fuel-cell vehicle by a full one year as the world's oldest automaker looks to be the first to sell hydrogen-powered cars to the public. The Daimler AG unit will start selling its fuel-cell electric vehicle to the public in 2014, instead of the previously targeted 2015, because of faster-than-expected technical advancements and a relatively problem-free global vehicle testing prorgam, Daimler Chairman Dieter Zetsche said during a media roundtable discussion in New York earlier this more
Mercedes To Offer New M-Class Hybrid SUV
By Scott Doggett June 8, 2011Shortly after Mercedes-Benz launches its new 2012 M Class SUVs in September, the German automaker plans to offer American customers a new M-Class hybrid SUV. While Mercedes has not officially confirmed the hybrid, AutoObserver has it from a knowledgeable source and Daimler Chairman Dieter Zetsche hinted at it this week in Germany while unveiling the non-hybrid 2012 M Class (above). Zetsche said customers' expectations for green technologies are evolving, and yet at the same time, consumer attraction to luxury SUVs will not abate. more
Daimler Profits Soar on S-Class, China
By Michelle Krebs May 2, 2011Daimler AG, reported first-quarter profits up 71 percent on the strength of sales in China and the Mercedes-Benz S-Class. Daimler earnings pre interest and taxes rose to 3.03 billion euros ($3.01 billion) from 1.19 billion euros in the year-ago quarter, on par with analysts' projections. Revenue rose 15 percent to 24.7 billion euros. more
Auto Plants Close After Deadly Twisters in South
By Michelle Krebs April 28, 2011Mercedes-Benz has shut down the assembly lines until Monday at its Vance, Ala., plant near Tuscaloosa (above), where tornadoes devastated the area. A company spokesperson told AutoObserver.com that damage at the plant, which still has power despite major outages throughout the area, was minor and there were no injuries. Tornadoes that swept through the South are blamed for the deaths of 263 people at last count, including 180 in hardest-hit Alabama. more
Despite Tesla Tie, Daimler Moving EV Work In-House
By Danny King April 14, 2011Daimler AG's decision to make its own electric-vehicle motors in partnership with technology giant Robert Bosch furthers the automaker's efforts to make electric-drive production more of an in-house affair and appears to push non-German suppliers like longtime battery supplier Tesla Motors more into the margins. Daimler on Tuesday said it reached an agreement with Bosch to form a joint venture this year to develop motors for Mercedes-Benz and Smart battery-electric vehicles (BEVs) starting in 2012. Daimler spokeswoman Eva Wiese declined to say how much the companies would invest in the JV or what the production goals would be. more
Daimler Reverses Course; Earns Hefty 2010 Profit
By Michelle Krebs February 17, 2011Daimler AG, which makes and sells vehicles sold under the Mercedes-Benz, Maybach and smart brands globally, posted a full-year profit equivalent to $6.31 billion; in 2009, it recorded a loss. Daimler attributed the turnaround to a generally improved world economy, with luxury buyers returning to Mercedes showrooms in the United States and an emerging luxury market in China, a strong product line and efficiency improvements. more