Stuttgart, Jan 18, 2007

Deliveries of more than two million units make the predecessor model the best-selling C-Class ever.The new Mercedes-Benz C-Class is celebrating its world premiere today at the Mercedes-Benz World in Stuttgart. The new C-Class sedan offers outstanding safety, comfort and agility, and stands out through a product concept that emphasizes variety to meet the most diverse customer requirements. In addition, the three individual models have a visibly different appearance from one another. “Through innovative high-performance technologies we aim to raise the bar even higher when it comes to safety, comfort and agility in the segment of compact premium automobiles,” says Dr. Dieter Zetsche, Chairman of the Board of Management DaimlerChrysler AG and head of the Mercedes Car Group. “The new C-Class will thus set new standards when it comes to providing the most sophisticated driving experience in its segment.”

Individual design of the new Mercedes-Benz C-Class underscores its agility and comfort

The distinctive design of the new Mercedes-Benz C-Class, which will arrive at dealerships in Europe at the end of March and in the U.S. just a few weeks later, is based on the modern Mercedes-Benz idiom. For the first time in a Mercedes sedan, the model variants differ from one another through different front views.

The AVANTGARDE model with its centrally positioned Mercedes star is an extremely agile C-Class in a sporty design. For customers who rather prefer a comfortable and elegant ride, Mercedes-Benz offers a truly classic model in the CLASSIC and ELEGANCE lines with the traditional Mercedes radiator grille. “With this design variety, the new C-Class can be tailored even more specifically to what typically are very heterogenous customer demands in this segment.

Depending on the line, the new C-Class sets an individual tone in terms of comfort or agility,” says Dr. Klaus Maier, Executive Vice President Mercedes Car Group, responsible for Sales and Marketing.

C-Class is a best-seller

Mercedes-Benz C-Class models have been among the most popular vehicles in the Mercedes-Benz product portfolio ever since the launch of the 190 Series – the so-called Baby Benz – 25 years ago. With the latest model changeover, the fourth generation of the C-Class will now continue the success story of its predecessor, the 203 Series.

More than two million sedans, station wagons and sport coupes have been sold of this model since its market launch in March 2000. This makes the 203 Series the best-selling C-Class model ever. Germany is the most important market for the C-Class, accounting for approximately 30 percent of worldwide sales. The new C-Class will be built at the Sindelfingen and Bremen plants in Germany and at the East London plant in South Africa.