Hand-built for the highest quality: The Mercedes-Benz plant in Sindelfingen starts production of the SLS AMG

The new gullwing model is now at the starting line: following its world premiere at the International Motor Show in Frankfurt/Main in September 2009, series production of the SLS AMG is now commencing in Sindelfingen, the largest of the Mercedes-Benz production plants.

"Made in Sindelfingen also stands for the very highest production and product quality where the SLS AMG is concerned," says Dr. Dieter Zetsche, Chairman of Daimler AG and CEO of Mercedes-Benz Cars. "From the end of March, our customers will be able to verify this for themselves."

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The Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG has been extremely well received by our customers," says Dr. Joachim Schmidt, Head of Sales and Marketing at Mercedes-Benz Cars. "Even in advance of the actual market launch, orders have considerably exceeded our expectations. This shows that the exciting design and extraordinary concept of our gullwing model precisely meet the taste and aspirations of potential customers."

In summer 2008 the Mercedes-Benz plant in Sindelfingen was presented with the J.D. Power Award by the renowned US market research institute J.D. Power and Associates. This award goes to the automobile production plant with the best delivery quality worldwide. "We are very proud that the new gullwing model is being produced in Sindelfingen. The J.D. Power Award for worldwide top quality will directly benefit buyers of the SLS AMG," says Volker Mornhinweg, Chairman of the Board of Management, Mercedes-AMG GmbH.

Value retention champion 2010: Mercedes-Benz builds the vehicles with the highest value retention

Four Mercedes-Benz models have the lowest depreciation in their segment, and can justifiably call themselves the "Value retention champions 2010" – the E, C, S and R-Class. These are the findings of analyses carried out each year by the Saarbrücken-based market research institute Bähr & Fess Forecast on behalf of the motoring magazine "Auto Bild". Mercedes-Benz vehicles are therefore generally have the highest value retention, and offer a significant economic advantage.

According to the residual value forecasts of the market researchers, the new E-Class will be the saloon with the highest resale value of all large coupés when it is four years old. The E 250 CDI will still command 55.5 percent of its current new value.

The C 220 CDI leads the field in the medium-size category, while the S 350 CDI is the winner in the luxury class, with forecast residual values of 53.5 and 49 percent respectively. The "value retention champion" among people carriers also bears the Mercedes star on its bonnet: the R 300 CDI is the leader in this segment, and is forecast to achieve a value of 47.5 percent after four years. Accordingly, four models from Mercedes-Benz carry the accolade "Value retention champions 2010". The E, C, S and R-Class already occupied this peak position after analyses by the residual value specialists last year, and in previous years vehicles from Mercedes-Benz were regularly numbered amongst those with the highest value retention.