Daimler AG today announced that it selected the smart plant in Hambach, France, as the location for future series production of the smart fortwo electric drive. As of 2012, the highly innovative electric vehicle, equipped with the most modern lithium-ion-battery, will roll off the assembly line in large-scale production and will be offered to customers through the smart sales network. The announcement was made on the occasion of an official visit of French President Nicolas Sarkozy at the Hambach plant.

In the 1920's and 1930's Maybach, together with Mercedes-Benz, already represented the pinnacle of German and international automotive engineering. Maybach has been continuing this tradition since 2002. Firstly Maybach unveiled the 57 and 62 models, followed in 2005 by the high-performance 57 S and in 2006 by the Maybach 62 S – at that time, the world's most powerful series-produced chauffeur-driven saloon. The Landaulet joined the Maybach family in 2008. And this year, the model range is being expanded once again by the addition of the Maybach Zeppelin, which now spearheads the Maybach brand’s luxury saloon line-up.

From mid November 2009 the new smart fortwo electric drive will roll off the production line at the smart factory in Hambach, France. Unlike its predecessor, the electrically driven smart fortwo of the second generation is fitted with an innovative and highly efficient lithium-ion battery. It is housed in a space-saving position between the axles, which means that space is not compromised in any way in the intelligent two-seater vehicle. A 30 kW electric motor is fitted at the rear. This provides for good acceleration and high agility with 120 Newton metres of torque that are immediately available.

Shortly after the successful market launch of the S 400 HYBRID, currently the most fuel-efficient luxury-segment saloon with a petrol engine, Mercedes-Benz will be presenting the first “three-litre car” in the premium class - the Vision S 500 Plug-in HYBRID - at the 63rd IAA in Frankfurt.

The evidence is now clear: drivers of Mercedes vehicles are safer on the road than drivers of other car brands. This is the result of a study of Mercedes accident research based on official, anonymous data samples from the Federal Office of Statistics. Having looked at 18,748 accidents resulting in personal injury during the period from 2003 to 2007, the study found that the risk of being seriously or fatally injured as the driver of a E‑Class, is 10.4 percent lower than for comparable vehicles of other brands.

Mercedes-Benz is expanding its current family of E-Class vehicles by adding another traditionally successful model to the lineup: the new Estate. The new model will be released for sale in Europe on August 5 and hit showrooms on November 21.

The new E-Class has gotten off to a very successful start, with more than 40,000 units delivered to customers since the market introduction in spring 2009. Mercedes-Benz expects sales of the new E-Class to receive a further boost in the coming months from the vehicle’s introduction in key markets including the U.S. and China and the launch of the new station wagon in fall 2009. The station wagon will celebrate its world premiere at this year's IAA in September.

US president Barack Obama has signed a law for a scrappage incentive for old cars based on the European model, which draws the attention of car buyers to the smart fortwo. In future, Americans who trade their old car for the two-seater with its exemplary environmental credentials will receive the maximum premium from the state.