Forbes is reporting today that as of the end of March, DaimlerChrysler has achieved 90% of its planned 8,500 job cuts.

According to the article, 7,800 employees have either accepted severance packages or already left the company.

The job cuts, most of which are coming from German Mercedes production plants, were originally expected to take as long as September of this year to complete.

Keep Reading "DaimlerChrysler Achieves 90% of 8,500 Planned Mercedes Job Cuts"

In a recent poll conducted by "promobil" magazine, the Mercedes-Benz James Cook was voted "Camper Van of the Year 2006" by the publication's readers.

Edging out 282 competitors, the James Cook took top honors in both the best camper van over EUR 40,000 and the overall categories, earning 56% of the approximately 20,000 votes tallied. Since its inception in 1995, the James Cook has been honored with the award twelve consecutive times...

Keep Reading "Mercedes-Benz James Cook Voted Camper Van Of The Year 2006"

Although not scheduled for release until April of 2007, spy photographer extraordinaire 'skoochyatone' has just sent us the first images of what we can expect from the newest smart fortwo.

As you can see from the photos, it appears the latest smart will remain similar in shape and size to the current model.  Early rumors indicate the next smart fortwo will feature more streamlined headlights (see last photo), and despite the disguise, the spy photos appear to substantiate this fact...

Keep Reading "Spy Photos Of The Newest Smart ForTwo"

As you can probably tell, it's been a slow day for Mercedes news, so I decided I'd take a second and catch up on some of the emails we've received over the past couple weeks.

While doing so, I came across an email from a reader by the name of Jakpro1 who pointed out some entertaining features found on Mercedes-Benz.com.

Although there's nothing new for those familiar with Mercedes' international website, if you tend to stick to MBUSA.com, below are a few fun highlights you may have missed...

Keep Reading "Time Waster Of The Day:  Fun With The Mercedes-Benz Website"

Picture for a moment that you are Reggie Bush... star running back/tailback/wide reciever for the USC Trojans; soon to be top pick in this year's NFL draft.

Now picture what you would drive.

If your selection was the Mercedes CLS fitted with an ASMA-Design CLS Shark II body kit and Lowenhart wheels, then you and Reggie have something in common - you both picked the same vehicle, and you're both insane...

Keep Reading "The Reggie Bush Mercedes CLS"

Although it doesn't open its doors to the public until May 20th, the new Mercedes-Benz museum will be the central theme at this year's Techno Classica fair in Essen, Germany.

Under the motto “Welcome to the Inventor of the Automobile”, Mercedes' aim at this year's trade fair will be to document the significance of the new museum with respect to preserving brand tradition.  To do so, a 1,000 square meter exhibit in the style of the new museum is being constructed on the Essen fair grounds, offering visitors the opportunity to witness a number of unique Mercedes automobiles.  A few highlights include the original Patent Motor Car from 1886, a vehicle personally donated by Karl Benz to the German museum in Munich in 1906, as well as the Mercedes bionic car, a highly fuel efficient concept vehicle modeled after a boxfish...

Keep Reading "Mercedes To Showcase New Museum At Techno Classica 2006"

Looking for the perfect way to spice up your dull 40 minute-a-day aerobic workout?  If you're tired of that boring old treadmill/stationary bike/elliptical machine, Mercedes-Accessories GmbH is here to help.   They've just released details of their 2006 bike collection, offering Mercedes owners (and non-owners) the perfect pedal-powered mode of transport no matter what your fitness level.

For the hardcore road bike enthusiast, the highlight of the collection will undoubtedly be the carbon fiber road bike. Weighing in at 8.3 kilograms and equipped with Shimano Dura Ace components, the carbon fiber road bike is perfect for the avid road biking enthusiasts among you. Production is limited to 199 units, with pricing set at EUR 2990...

Keep Reading "The Mercedes-Benz Accessories GmbH Bike Collection 2006"

As you may remember a month or two back, Mercedes debuted a new entertainment service known as "text tracks."  In short, text tracks is a collection of short stories written by authors from around the world, narrated by world-renowned speakers and made available to you for download, free of charge, in MP3 format.

Today, the second installment of text tracks has been released, and is available immediately for your listening pleasure.

Now normally this is the part where I'd give my own insight on Mercedes' literary choices, but today I thought I'd try something a little different.  Instead of boring you with my bland viewpoint, I thought I'd let you, the public, review for yourself Mercedes latest text tracks, and publish your own opinions for the world to see...

Keep Reading "Mercedes Text Tracks 02 Now Available"

Yesterday we told you about the 2007 Mercedes S600 finally being added to MBUSA.com's website, but in our haste to pulish the story, we failed to check if any other new models had been added as well.

Low and behold, we received another email yesterday from a keen reader by the name Dayvod, who dropped us a note letting us know the 2007 Mercedes SL550 has also been added to MBUSA.com...

Keep Reading "2007 Mercedes SL550 Added To MBUSA.com"

It's the start of a new month and all my faithful readers know that can mean only one thing - it's time for some financial news.

As has already been noted in my exceptionally uncreative story title, MBUSA has noted another banner month, achieving their best March in history by increasing sales 17.9% to 21,417 new vehicles.  This brings the YTD total sales for MBUSA to 51,242 new vehicles, an increase of 17.1% over the first quarter of 2005...

Keep Reading "MBUSA Reports Highest Ever March Sales"

In the mood for some light reading? If so you're in luck, because the good people over at DaimlerChrysler have published a tremendously in-depth look at the history of the Mercedes-Benz museum. 

From its humble beginnings in the early 1900's to its record-setting 500,000+ visitors in 2004, you can read all about the museum's illustrious history in the full press release after the jump...

Keep Reading "Flashback Of The Day: History Of The Mercedes-Benz Museum"

While going over our overpopulated inbox today, we happened upon an email from an astute reader by the name of Bobby. Bobby alerted us to the fact that, unbeknownst to us, MBUSA.com now has included the Mercedes S600 in its model lineup.

Pricing info, features, options list, photos, "Build Your Own"... it's all there ladies and gentlemen...

Keep Reading "Mercedes S600 Now On MBUSA.com"

So the 10,000 other Mercedes GL reviews haven't sold you yet?  Still not sure whether or not the new mega-Mercedes SUV is worth laying down the 50 large you've worked so diligently to attain?

If you're one of the afore-mentioned consumers who has to read every single review ever published about a car before making the leap, we've got you covered.

This time, the newest opinions of the Mercedes GL 450 are coming courtesy of the folks over at Inside Line.  They recently took their turn behind the wheel of the 2007 Mercedes GL 450, and found (among other things) the GL was surprisingly nimble, comfortable, and powered well...

Keep Reading "Inside Line's First Drive Of The 2007 Mercedes GL 450"

Welcome back ladies and gentlemen, I hope you all had a great weekend.  Unfortunately I've been feeling a little under the weather the past couple days, so if my posts seem a bit shorter today, now you know my excuse.

In what's becoming somewhat of a tradition on Monday mornings, we'll kick things off today with a quick recap of the Melbourne F1 race that transpired over the weekend.  As usual, if you have it TIVO'd, read no further; otherwise keep reading for the full scoop...

Keep Reading "Team McLaren Mercedes F1 Race Recap:  Melbourne"