Mercedes 2006 Annual Report Download - page 101

1,149
292
329
243
108
177
103
1,252
785
353
272
248
125
48
Mercedes-Benz
thereof: A/B-Class
C/CLK/SLK-Class
E/CLS-Class
S/CL/SL-Class/SLR/Maybach
M/R/GL/G-Class
smart
Mercedes Car Group
thereof: Western Europe
Germany
NAFTA
United States (retail sales)
Asia/Pacific
Japan
1 Group sales (including leased vehicles)
Divisions |Mercedes Car Group |85
Consistent quality improvements have a positive impact. The
extensive measures that we are implementing to further improve
the quality of our vehicles are having a very positive effect. This
claim is supported by internal analyses and many external stud-
ies, such as the German ADAC AutoMarxX brand ratings. In addi-
tion, the J.D. Power Initial Quality Study 2006 concluded that
the Mercedes-Benz brand has a positive trend in the category of
initial quality.Improvements were achieved in nearly all of the
areas that were addressed in last year’s study (IQS 2005). This
positive development was also confirmed by the 2005 ADAC
break-down statistics, in which the Mercedes-Benz C-Class finished
first among medium-sized vehicles, while another five Mercedes-
Benz passenger cars ranked among the top three in their vehicle
segments. The quality offensive at Mercedes-Benz will continue
as we move towardachieving our goal of becoming the number one
manufacturer in terms of product and service quality.
Mercedes-Benz motorsportsuccess withanother DTM title.
Mercedes-Benz captured its fifth German Touring Car Masters
(DTM) title in the Drivers’ Championship since the series was
restarted in 2000. The brand also won the Team Championship in
2006. The C-Class emerged as the most successful DTM vehicle
last year,winning six of the ten races staged. After finishing second
in the Formula One Constructors’ Championship in 2005,
McLaren-Mercedes captured third place in the year under review,
as well as fifth place in the Drivers’ Championship.
Maybach expands its product range. The Maybach high-end
luxurybrand expanded its model range in 2006, thereby further
boosting brand appeal. In addition to the Type 62 limousine and
the shorter wheelbase Type 57 and 57 S models, the more powerful
Maybach 62 S is now also available. Thanks to its high-powered
12-cylinder engine, the new 62 S model is the world’s most power-
ful series-produced chauffeur-driven limousine. Since the brand
was revived in 2002, Maybach has delivered more than 1,700 auto-
mobiles to customers around the world despite the difficult
market conditions facing manufacturers in the luxury car sector.
360 of these vehicles were delivered in 2006.
The new smart fortwo can do everything
that its predecessor could - but better. It is
even more agile, more comfortable, safer
and more environmentally friendly than the
first model.
+5
+12
-17
-8
+51
+85
-17
+3
+1
-0
+7
+11
+2
+0
Unit sales in 20061
1,000 06/05
units % change
Setting the course for a bright future at smart. In March2006,
we announced that the smart brand would focus on its fortwo
model in the future. Production of the forfour model was discon-
tinued. In addition, all smart brand functions have been integrated
into the Mercedes-Benz organization. smart will retain its identity
as a strong brand of the Mercedes Car Group, with its own clear
imageand market presence. By developing a new business model
for smart, DaimlerChrysler has created the right conditions to
achieve a much more favorable cost structure, thus ensuring that
the brand can enjoy a profitable future in the long term.
In November 2006, we unveiled the new smart fortwo, which will
be launched in Europe in April 2007. Although the vehicle boasts
substantial improvements in terms of comfort, handling, safety and
environmental friendliness, it remains true to its unique concept
and character. Starting in 2008, the new smart fortwo will also be
available in the United States. Due to increasing traffic volumes
and rising fuel prices, this market has become a promising market
for smart. The second-largest automobile retail organization in
the United States – the UnitedAuto Group – will act as the exclu-
sive importer of smart brand vehicles.