Mercedes-Benz is the oldest car manufacturer in the world. The two original firms Benz & Cie. 1926 into the Daimler-Benz AG. One of the young engineers at Daimler-Benz was Ferdinand Porsche who later became known for designing the VW beetle. In the early days Mercedes-Benz AG produced a range of passenger and commercial vehicles and engines for ships, airships and airplanes. During the 1930s the company became heavily involved in the arms industry producing aircraft engines and military vehicles. Since the company produced all kinds of military vehicles during the First World War, its outlets were heavily bombed and 70% of its production capabilities destroyed. The reconstruction took a few years, but business picked up again during the 1950s when Daimler-Benz began to export passenger and commercial vehicles to India, Brazil, Argentina and the US. Over the years the company had branched out so much that a major reorganisation was necessary. In 1989 the company was renamed Daimler-Benz and divided into three subsidiaries: Mercedes-Benz, AEG and Deutsche Aerospace. A year later another branch, Daimler-Benz Inter Services (debis) was added. In the following years Mercedes-Benz opened a number of car plants abroad.
Although Mercedes cars are still produced mainly in Germany an ever increasing number is manufactured in countries like South Africa, Mexico, USA, Brasil, India, South Korea and Vietnam. The reasons are manifold: lower production costs, lower transport cost, the possibility of reaching more customers and opening up new markets. In 1998 Daimler-Benz decided to increase its share in the American market and merge with the Chrysler Corporation. 38 billion dollars and was one of the largest industrial mergers in history. It turned the company into the third largest car manufacturer in the world. Today Daimler Benz is the largest industrial enterprise in Germany with a turnover of 3.1 billion Euro and 416 000 employees worldwide. It has manufacturing plants in 37 countries and sells its products in more than 200. In the year 2000, 4.2 million passenger cars and 549 000 commercial vehicles were sold. Mercedes-Benz headquarters are in Stuttgart in Germany; the headquarters of DaimlerChrysler are in Auburn Hills, Michigan. Global brands that are part of the group include Dodge, Smart, Frightliner, Sterling, Western Star, Thomas Built Buses, Setra, Orion, American LaFrance, MTV and TEMIC. Like many brands, Mercedes-Benz has started to diversify. Apart from cars Mercedes now offers clothing, leather goods, watches, jewelry, etc. in its brand name. This growing trend shows that in ever more competitive markets the creation of a good image and a well-known brand name is vital for the continuing success of the product.
As before, entry-level engines are being offered with front-wheel drive. And the 140 PS TDI is also available with front-wheel drive as an alternative. That is how this Volkswagen, as a TDI, was even able to break the 5.5-litre barrier with the noted 5.3 l/100 km fuel economy. The new Tiguan is replacing a model that has experienced an exceptional history of success: in Germany, after its market launch in 2007, the Volkswagen Tiguan sprinted from a standstill to become the SUV market leader. And it never gave up this position: Although the launch of the new Tiguan was announced by Volkswagen in February 2011, the "old" model continued to rank first in new car registrations for all SUVs in Germany. Even more impressive: until shortly before its production stopped it was the fourth best-selling passenger car after the Golf, Polo and Passat. Very few cars - wherever they may be located in the world - experience such a successful finale! Internationally, the VW Tiguan has long been one of the most sought after Volkswagens as well.
Its highest volume markets are all of Europe, Russia, the USA, China, Brazil and Australia. In Germany, its average market share in the compact SUV segment was about 21 percent in 2010, while it was 12 percent across Europe. In total, nearly 700,000 Tiguans have been delivered worldwide since Autumn 2007. The smaller brother of the Touareg is now poised to continue this success with a new look and further advanced technologies. The Volkswagen Tiguan is one of the most successful automobiles of its kind. Since the bestseller debuted in Autumn 2007, nearly 700,000 units have been delivered across five continents. Key reasons for the SUV becoming a global success were its technical properties and great economy. In parallel, the Volkswagen scored highly with its distinctive, timeless and appealing styling. Nonetheless, Volkswagen has further developed the lines of the Tiguan - which is always a four-door model. In particular, the front and rear sections were redesigned to reflect Volkswagen's new design DNA.
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