Cooperation contract of 1990 opens up new possibilities for AMG

OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE

The cooperation agreed between Daimler-Benz and AMG in 1990 opened up completely new possibilities for the medium-sized company. From then on, AMG cars were sold and serviced by the world-wide sales network of Mercedes-Benz � improving acceptance on the part of the customers decisively. Continued expansion led to the opening of plant no. 3, and the workforce grew to 400. In 1993, the German Patent and Trademark Office registered the acronym AMG as a trademark, thereby acknowledging the brand�s high level of recognition. The C 36 AMG launched in the same year was the first jointly developed AMG high-performance car of which over 5,000 units were produced until 1997. Similar successes were recorded with the E 50 AMG and E 55 AMG in the following years.

Another milestone was the integration of AMG in the DaimlerChrysler Group on January 1, 1999, when Hans Werner Aufrecht transferred 51 percent of his stake to the newly founded Mercedes-AMG GmbH. The motorsport department was hived off and renamed H.W.A. GmbH. In the immediate vicinity of Mercedes-AMG, some 210 employees are now taking care of AMG�s long-term activities in the DTM (German Touring Car Masters) together with Mercedes-Benz Motorsport.

Modernization and expansion in Affalterbach starting in 2000

Parallel to this, the location in Affalterbach was expanded and modernized. New representative buildings and the latest test rigs demonstrate the exceptional position of this traditional company to visitors at first glance. In the new AMG engine manufacturing department, the most progressive production processes are applied to build the powerful AMG high-performance engines in keeping with the AMG philosophy �One Man, One Engine�. By 2005, the company premises had grown from 41,300 to 57,750 square meters; at the same time, the roofed area in all buildings more than doubled from some 20,000 to 42,850 square meters.

In January 2005 DaimlerChrysler took over the remaining shares and has since been the sole stockholder of Mercedes-AMG GmbH. With this move, DaimlerChrysler secured the competence, the experience and the manpower of a partner who has over the years become the epitome of success in international motorsport, in manufacturing exclusive high-performance cars and in creating dynamic designs. This exemplary success story is borne out by the sales figures. Sales of Mercedes-AMG GmbH rose from 11,500 units in 2000 to over 20,000 units in 2004. The workforce also reached a new record level: some 680 people are currently employed at the location in Affalterbach (as per October 2005).
Since September 1, 2005, the company management has been made up of Volker Mornhinweg (chairman), Wolf Zimmermann (Development and Production) and Domingos Piedade (Sales, Marketing and Global Relations).

Mercedes-AMG: Responsibility for all processes

Being the Performance Division of the DaimlerChrysler Group,Mercedes-AMG assumes responsibility for all processes in the development of chassis, engine, drive system, suspension, brakes, electronics, aerodynamics, interior, design and quality through to the approval of the complete AMG car. In addition, Mercedes-AMG takes care of all aspects which are relevant for marketing and sales � completely independently. A traditional strength of AMG is the realization of particularly individual customer wishes: in the AMG Manufacture, specialists come up with tailor-made and out-of-the-ordinary solutions and create unique, one-off cars to meet customer wishes � �one man, one engine� � incorporating the highest quality standards as a matter of course.

The AMG Manufacture is also the place where the SLK 55 AMG used as the official FIA Formula One Safety Car and the C 55 AMG station wagon serving as Medical Car were set up. AMG�s long-term commitment to Formula One began in 1984 with a specially developed Mercedes-Benz E-Class coupe for use as Medical Car. After sporadic activities in the following years, Mercedes-AMG has been providing the FIA Safety Car regularly in what is the ninth successive season now. It began with the C 36 AMG in 1996 and continued with the first CLK 55 AMG in 1997, the CL 55 AMG in 2000 and the SL 55 AMG one year later. The new CLK 55 AMG made its debut in 2003, and since 2004, the new SLK 55 AMG has been ensuring safety on Formula One race-tracks.


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