DaimlerChrysler South Africa would from Monday be trading as Mercedes-Benz South Africa, the car manufacturer said.
Hansgeorg Niefer, chairperson of the newly named Mercedes-Benz South Africa, said: ”This name stands for a company with solid roots in South Africa and a strong tradition stretching over 53 years which has been dedicated to excellence in manufacturing and for bringing superb vehicle products to the South African market.”
He said the name change will not affect present contracts and undertakings.
”It is business as usual, with a fresh focus and renewed energy. We are pleased to be producing world-class Mercedes-Benz products for export to both right- and left-hand-drive markets, and proud that our company name will also reflect this.”
Niefer said the company will continue to market various vehicle brands such as Mitsubishi, Freightliner, FUSO and Western Star.
The name change is in line with the international sale of the Chrysler business unit to an American company earlier this year. The global automotive company was renamed Daimler AG at a shareholders’ meeting in Berlin in October.
To align the group’s international operations worldwide, the company’s production plants and sales organisations also had to be renamed, the company said.
The guiding principle of the name-change process was to draw a clear distinction between the Daimler corporate brand and the group’s product activities. — Sapa