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  2. Chronicle 1981 - 1990
  3. 1988

1988

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Re-entering motor sport
    Re-entering motor sport
  • 15 January 1988
  • Daimler-Benz AG announces its decision to revive the company's official involvement in motor sport, and to provide works support to private teams in Group A and Group C racing.
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Front-passenger airbag: optional extra for S-Class
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Successes for Schlesser/ Baldi/ Mass in the C 9
    Successes for Schlesser/ Baldi/ Mass in the C 9
  • 6 March 1988
  • The driver team Jean-Louis Schlesser/Mauro Baldi/Jochen Mass wins the first race of the 1988 Sports Car World Championship in Jerez, Spain, in a Sauber-Mercedes C 9. Further wins follow in Brno, Czechoslovakia, on the Nürburgring and in Spa-Francorchamps, Belgium.
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O 303: world's most frequently built touring coach
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One-millionth car from the 201 series
    One-millionth car from the 201 series
  • 29 March 1988
  • The one-millionth car of the 201 series compact class, a 190, is completed in Bremen and presented by Prof. Werner Niefer, member of the Board of Management, to a representative of the youth welfare facilities of the City of Bremen.
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    Weekly working hours shortened to 37.5
  • 1 April 1988
  • The length of the working week in Germany's metal-working industry is reduced by one hour to 37.5 hours. The monthly wage concept is introduced for employees at all Daimler-Benz AG plants, in place of the previous system of hourly pay.
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Revised Unimog model range
    Revised Unimog model range
  • 20 - 27 April 1988
  • Daimler-Benz presents a revised Unimog model range in the heavy-duty category to the public at the Hanover Trade Fair. The models of the new 427 and 437 series are equipped with the OM 366 or OM 366 A in-line six-cylinder engine and take the place of the 424, 425 and 435 series.
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New Freightliner generation
    New Freightliner generation
  • May 1988
  • The Thunder & Lightning Edition of the new Freightliner heavy-duty truck generation, available in conventional and cab-over-engine form, debuts at the International Trucker Show in Anaheim, California/USA.
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    Leasing and financing from one source
  • 1 July 1988
  • Mercedes-Benz Finanz GmbH, formed the previous year and wholly owned by Daimler-Benz, commences operations. Mercedes Leasing GmbH is renamed Mercedes-Benz Leasing GmbH and functions as subsidiary to the newly established company. Under the name Mercedes-Benz Lease Finanz, the companies, run by the same management, offer leasing and financing solutions for all Mercedes-Benz products.
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New generation of heavy-duty trucks presented
    New generation of heavy-duty trucks presented
  • 4 - 8 July 1988
  • The new Mercedes-Benz heavy-duty (SK) truck range is presented to the motoring press in the town of Singen on Lake Constance. The SK truck range comprises semitrailer tractors, platform trucks and construction site vehicles in the 17-tonne and over weight category. The new heavy-duty trucks are powered by different versions of the OM 442 V8 engine or by the newly developed OM 441 LA turbocharged and intercooled V6 engine.
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Stylistically revised compact-class models
    Stylistically revised compact-class models
  • 22 August 1988
  • The stylistically revised compact-class models are unveiled to the press. The 190 E 2.5-16 becomes the new top-of-the-range model for the 201 series, replacing the 190 E 2.3-16.
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First championship title for Sauber-Mercedes
    First championship title for Sauber-Mercedes
  • 25 September 1988
  • After three wins in Hockenheim, on the Norisring and in Diepholz, Jean-Louis Schlesser wins the Supercup by taking fourth place at the Nürburgring in a Sauber-Mercedes C 9. At the same time, this is the first championship title for Sauber-Mercedes.
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    China builds heavy-duty trucks under license
  • 27 September 1988
  • Daimler-Benz AG and the Chinese mechanical engineering group Northern Industries Corporation (NORINCO) sign a contract in Beijing that provides for the manufacture of Mercedes-Benz heavy-duty trucks under licence in Baotou in Mongolia. The first vehicles are to be assembled and sold under NORINCO's own label in 1990.
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Debuts at the Paris Motor Show
    Debuts at the Paris Motor Show
  • 29 September - 9 October 1988
  • The 200 E, 250 D Turbo, 200 TE (124 series) and 560 SE (126 series) make their debuts at the Paris Motor Show.
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Runner-up in German Touring Car Championship
    Runner-up in German Touring Car Championship
  • 15 October 1988
  • In the final race of the DTM season at the Hockenheimring, Roland Asch takes second place in both runs in a Mercedes-Benz 190 E 2.3-16 Group A car to make him runner-up in the German Touring Car Championship.
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    Sauber-Mercedes: one-two win in final race
  • 20 November 1988
  • In the final race of the Sports Car World Championship in Sandown Park, Australia, the Sauber-Mercedes C 9 racers driven by Jean-Louis Schlesser/Jochen Mass and Mauro Baldi/Stefan Johansson score their first double victory. This gives Schlesser second place in the drivers' competition, and second place to the Sauber-Mercedes team in the constructors' rankings.
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    One-millionth 124-series passenger car
  • 19 December 1988
  • Prof. Werner Niefer presents the one-millionth 124-series model, a 200 E, to Ursula Späth, wife of the Minister President of Baden-Württemberg and patroness of AMSEL, a charitable organisation for people suffering from multiple sclerosis.
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