Daimler :Mercedes Benz is back

[guitarlix]

Daimler: Mercedes-Benz Is Back

All it took was one shareholders' meeting for DaimlerChrysler to get a fresh start and new identity. DaimlerChrysler AG shareholders overwhelmingly voted to change the company's name to Daimler AG. Over 98% of shareholders were in favor of the measure, seen as a way of distancing the company from a disastrous $36 billion merger in 1998 with Chrysler.

Chrysler was sold off to private equity firm Cerebrus Capital Management in August 2007 for roughly $6 billion.

Additionally, CEO Dieter Zetsche told shareholders that Daimler AG's first order of business was to rename its passenger car division Mercedes-Benz Cars, once again honoring Carl Friedrich Benz. Benz's company combined with Gottlieb Daimler in 1926, but the Chrysler merger saw his name dropped from the car's branding.

"The proud name of Benz will not only remain prominent, it will have significantly higher visibility," Zetsche said.

The announcement comes on the heels of strong business news for both Mercedes and its parent company. Selling a record 124,600 vehicles, thanks in part to the new C-Class sedan, Mercedes showed a growth of 7.4% in total sales. Mercedes also saw an increase in sales during August, and has seen an overall year-to-year increase of nearly 1% to 942,300 vehicles sold, according to Daimler LLC. Smart also saw a hefty sales increase, with monthly sales jumping up 11.2%, on the introduction of the Smart ForTwo.

[drew630]

Ahh, that would explain their new commercial:

"...Because we promised you a Mercedes-Benz."

[chrisbenz]

The Benz is more know arond the world the Daimler. However, I think they are only thinking about Germany.

[Bravada]

Both convulted and galactically stupid. Should be "Daimler-Benz" and "Mercedes", not the other way around.