Mercedes-Benz PH to Offer Online Payment Channels, No Contact Home Delivery in New Normal

Mercedes-Benz PH is all set to resume ‘new normal’ operations. The Auto Nation Group, the exclusive distributor Mercedes-Benz vehicles in the country, and the dealer network are working together on their preparation to re-open business. Showrooms and Service Centers in Greenhills EDSA and BGC will resume on May 16, 2020, while Alabang and Cebu will reopen on May 18, 2020.

At this time, Mercedes-Benz PH rolls out the Mercedes-Benz AI: Adapt + Innovate Program to its dealer network. An initiative to provide customers with a pandemic-proof environment on their next visit to any Mercedes-Benz Showrooms and Service Centers, and to offer solutions that will increase ease in doing their sales and after sales needs

The service processes have been adjusted to align with the national and local safety protocols. Additional precautionary measures are in place to protect the health and welfare of clients and employees. These are strict adherence to physical distancing, mandatory wearing of protective equipment such as face masks and face shields, temperature screening, installation of safety reminders, and regular sanitation of all showrooms, offices and service facilities. In addition, an anti-body rapid testing will be conducted to all employees when the business opens. There will be increased education on prevention awareness, and promotion of personal hygiene and hand washing to all employees. Moreover, Mercedes-Benz PH will continue remote working arrangement and will only have maximum of 50 percent workforce onsite. Lastly, all vehicles on display in showrooms, test drive units before and after use, brand new vehicles for handover, and cars for delivery after service are all to be disinfected and sanitized.

Believing that this new norm will require the use of technology to provide customers ease and comfort in doing business, Mercedes-Benz PH is strengthening its online presence and capabilities to bring a safer, more convenient, and more contactless customer experience. Additional contact channels and online payment options will be made available via our dealer partners. Clients can now book their service appointments via Facebook, and book their reservations online. Mercedes-Benz sales executives are trained to conduct virtual vehicle demonstration and presentation using their  proprietary applications to help serve customers at the comforts and security of their homes. Also, Mercedes-Benz PH has devised a no-contact delivery and handover process for safer transactions.

Mercedes-Benz PH is doing all these efforts and initiatives to adapt effectively and efficiently to the new reality and promises to continuously innovate to bring unparalleled experience whenever and however its clients engage with the brand.

8 Things You Probably Didn't Know About Mercedes-AMG

Fifty-three years ago, three letters came together to become synonymous with the ultimate in Mercedes-Benz driving performance: AMG. Those letters, and the company it represents today is world-renowned for supreme automotive performance, exclusivity, and highly dynamic driving pleasure.

Although its strong reputation inspires admiration and desire among many, AMG has a storied history full of surprises, lesser-known innovations and superlative, exclusive sports cars.

#1. AMG stands for Aufrecht, Melcher, Großaspach, the last names of its founding fathers Hans Werner Aufrecht and Erhard Melcher, along with Aufrecht’s birthplace of Großaspach. The names behind these three letters were the starting point for the rapid development of AMG from a two-man home- based operation to an unparalleled global performance brand.

#2. The first vehicle associated with AMG started its life as a subdued four-door sedan. The car that eventually became renowned as the iconic “Red Pig” racing car, which helped build AMG’s credentials as a motorsports powerhouse, started its life as a Mercedes-Benz 300 SEL 6.3 four-door sedan. After Aufrecht and Melcher extensively modified the car, including increasing the engine’s displacement to 6.8 liters, the finished vehicle produced 428 horsepower and 607 Nm of torque, a huge improvement from the stock output of 247 horsepower and 500 Nm of torque. The duo also lightened the car extensively; although it was still likely the heaviest car on the grid at its racing debut in the 1971 24 hours of Spa, in which it secured a class win and second place overall result, immediately connecting the letters AMG with motorsports success.

#3. The first jointly developed high-performance vehicle from AMG and Mercedes-Benz was the C 36 AMG. By 1998, the partnership between AMG and Mercedes-Benz solidified further when Daimler acquired a majority stake of AMG, setting the stage for a variety of high-performance Mercedes-Benz AMG vehicles.

#4. For those that desire the ultimate in AMG performance, few models can match the rare AMG Black Series models. One can think of the Black Series as AMG’s most extroverted, most track-focused and most exclusive, limited production models. Black Series models further enhance AMG’s already exceptional performance models by modifying their powertrain, chassis and aerodynamics to optimize track performance and dynamic capabilities. Thus far, only five special models have worn the distinctive AMG Black Series badge. These include the CLK 63 Black Series, the C 63 Black Series, the SL 65 Black Series, the SLS Black Series, and the SLK 55 Black Series (which was not sold in the USA). However, the exclusive Black Series family will grow soon with the addition of the forthcoming GT Black Series, set to make its debut later this year.

#5. The striking SLS AMG was the first-ever car designed and developed from the ground up fully by Mercedes-AMG, followed by the AMG GT 2-door sports car in 2015, and most recently the AMG GT 4-Door Coupe in 2019. The iconic SLS AMG featured vertically opening “gullwing” doors, inspired by the iconic original Mercedes-Benz 300 SL “gullwing” (produced from 1954 – 1957). These unique doors accommodated its lightweight alloy-tube frame, which extended higher than a standard frame, thus leading to these innovative vertically opening doors. In the SLS AMG, these iconic gullwing doors were paired with an unusual safety feature -- two explosive capsules, capable of blowing the doors off for quick egress, in the unlikely event that the vehicle were to be flipped on its roof.

#6. All handcrafted AMG models are built according to the “One man, one engine” philosophy, an ironclad commitment to quality, in which one master craftsman assembles each AMG handcrafted engine from start to finish. This quality construction is honored by each builder via a special plaque, signed by the individual that assembled it and placed on the handcrafted engine upon completion.

#7. Today, Mercedes-AMG is headquartered in Affalterbach, Germany, a small town northeast of Stuttgart in the state of Baden-Wüttemberg. Affalterbach is home to the management, administration, sales, development and design teams of AMG, as well as the building of AMG hand- crafted engines. Mercedes-AMG now employs approximately 1,800 people—quite the contrast from its humble beginnings as a two-man operation at Hans Werner Aufrecht’s house in Großaspach.

#8. The Mercedes-AMG ONE hypercar is set to become the most powerful AMG vehicle ever produced—capable of producing more than 1,000 hp and reaching top speeds beyond 217 mph. For the first time, this two-seater hypercar will bring the very latest and most efficient, fully-fledged Formula 1 hybrid technology directly from the racetrack to the road, delivering the ultimate in Driving Performance for years to come.

Geely to Engineer Cars for Mercedes-Benz's Smart Brand

Mercedes-Benz and Geely announced that they have formally established the global joint venture, Smart Automobile Co., Ltd. after receiving regulatory approvals.

The joint venture has a total registered capital of 5.4 billion RMB (~P 39.6 billion). With this, Mercedes-Benz and Geely hope to transform Smart into a leading player in the electrified vehicles segment. The global headquarters of the new joint venture is set in Hangzhou Bay, Ningbo with operational sales functions based in China and Germany.

The new generation of Smart vehicles will be designed by the worldwide Mercedes-Benz Design network, and developed by the Geely global engineering network. Future production will be located in China.

As part of the vehicle-development program, the Smart product portfolio will be extended into the fast-growing B-segment that are in line with Smart’s brand positioning with a focus on pure premium electric and connected vehicles.

Get the Mercedes-Benz V-Class with a P 300k Discount Until December 23

End the year on a stellar note by driving home a brand-new Mercedes-Benz car or SUV with their 12 Days of Christmas promo.

For 12 days starting today (until December 23, 2019 if you don’t have a calendar handy), all Mercedes-Benz dealerships (EDSA - Greenhills, BGC, Alabang, and Cebu) will be offering amazing deals and huge discounts on a wide range of vehicles. This includes the A-, B-, C-Class, the GLC, and a whole lot more.

You can check the table below for the full list of deals, but how about the V 220 with a P 300,000 discount or the S 320 with a whopping P 900,000 off?

Mercedes-Benz Philippines Holds Blowout Sale This November 22 to 24, 2019

This November, make your dreams of owning a Mercedes-Benz come true! Take advantage of one-time, all-out deals on select Mercedes-Benz vehicles offered in the Great Mercedes-Benz Blowout happening from November 22 to 24 at all Mercedes-Benz dealerships nationwide.

Enjoy discounts of as much as one million pesos off on quality pre-owned units such as the compact tourer B-Class, the sporty crossover GLA, and executive saloon S-Class to name a few. You can also avail of exceptional financing packages on select brand-new models like the A-Class, C-Class, GLC, V-Class and many more! Plus, treat yourself to a delectable spread of German-inspired food and refreshments when you visit any of the Mercedes-Benz showrooms during the Blowout sale.

The Great Mercedes-Benz Blowout will happen from November 22 to 24 at all Mercedes-Benz dealerships. Showrooms will be open on extended hours from 8:30 AM to 9:00 PM. Mercedes-Benz showrooms are located at EDSA Greenhills, BGC, Alabang, and Cebu. Check the full list here.

McLaren Returns to Mercedes-Benz Power in 2021

After a tumultuous relationship with Honda and a solid, but unspectacular season so far with Renault, McLaren Racing is hoping to bounce back to the forefront of the Formula grid with the announcement that they will be returning to Mercedes-Benz power from 2021.

Under a long-term agreement Mercedes-Benz will supply McLaren with engines from 2021 to 2024. This is the first time that McLaren and Mercedes-Benz will come together since 2014. It must be remembered that the McLaren and Mercedes-Benz partnership that spanned 19 years (1995-2014) produced three Formula One World Championships.

Zak Brown, CEO, McLaren Racing, commented: “This agreement is an important step in our long-term plan to return to success in Formula 1. Mercedes is the benchmark, both as a team and a power unit, so it is natural we would seek to secure a relationship with the company for the next phase of our journey. This announcement reflects the confidence of our shareholders and is an important message to our investors, employees, partners and fans that we are committed to returning McLaren to the front of the field.”

Meanwhile, Toto Wolff, Head of Mercedes-Benz Motorsport, concluded: “We are delighted to welcome McLaren back to the Mercedes-Benz racing family with this new power unit supply agreement. Although the two brands share a prestigious history, this new agreement is all about looking to the future and beginning a new era of power unit supply for the years ahead. McLaren have been putting in place the building blocks of their revival over recent seasons, including impressive performances this season with Renault power. We hope that this new long-term agreement marks another milestone for McLaren as they aim to take the fight to the sport’s top teams, including our Mercedes works team.”