1. Illustrated Chronicle
  2. Chronicle 1951 - 1960
  3. 1958

1958

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Front seat belts available as optional extra
    Front seat belts available as optional extra
  • February 1958
  • Mercedes-Benz offers front seat belts on all car models as an optional extra ex factory. The lap belts are available for all vehicles with individual seats. From November, belts are also available for rear bench seats and one-piece driver's benches.
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    Buying into Auto Union
  • 1 April 1958
  • Daimler-Benz purchases an 88 % share in the equity capital of Auto Union GmbH, Ingolstadt/Düsseldorf.
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Rally success in East Africa in a Mercedes-Benz 219
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O 317 and LP 333 go into production
    O 317 and LP 333 go into production
  • May 1958
  • Production of the O 317 bus model gets underway at the Mannheim plant. At the same time, the Gaggenau plant begins series production of the LP 333 three-axle cab-over-engine truck. Dubbed the "Millipede”, this heavy-duty truck has two steered front axles, gleaning maximum benefit from the new registration regulations.
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New high-rise administrative building in Untertürkheim
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Safety door lock helps save lives
    Safety door lock helps save lives
  • 2 July 1958
  • The wedge-pin door lock with two security notches is registered as a patent. The innovative design detail, which prevents the door flying open or getting stuck in the event of an accident, is introduced into the product range in August 1959.
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    Factory in Australia
  • 30 July 1958
  • Together with Australian Motors Industries Ltd., Daimler-Benz sets up Mercedes-Benz Australia Pty. Ltd. in Port Melbourne. The company, in which Daimler-Benz intially holds a one-third share, takes over assembly of Mercedes-Benz cars and commercial vehicles from CKD (completly knocked down) vehicle kits.
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    New sales structure in the USA
  • August 1958
  • The newly founded Mercedes-Benz Sales, Inc. (MBS) – a subsidiary company of Studebaker-Packard based in South Bend, Indiana – takes over responsibility for Mercedes-Benz passenger car sales in the USA.
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Luxury class with injection engine
    Luxury class with injection engine
  • 1/2 September 1958
  • The 220 SE (W 128) with injection engine is presented to the press in Sindelfingen. Already established for some years, this power and efficiency enhancing technology is now also made available for volume production. The additional cost compared with the 220 S with carburettor engine is DM 1,900. At the same time the 190 D (W 121), another diesel car, makes its appearance. It is equipped with a 50 hp / 37 kW four-cylinder engine.
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100,000th 180 D
    100,000th 180 D
  • September 1958
  • Less than five years from the start of production of the 180 D, the 100,000th unit of this model rolls off the assembly line in Sindelfingen.
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    Cooling system for the 300
  • 1 December 1958
  • Daimler-Benz offers a cooling system as an optional extra in the 300 model. This special equipment, known today as an air conditioning unit, was developed mainly for use in tropical countries.
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    Investments ten years after currency reform
  • 31 December 1958
  • Capital spending by Daimler-Benz AG since the currency reform on 20 June 1948, comes to DM 692.8 million, including DM 215.4 million for real estate and DM 477.4 million for movable property.
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    Export share increases - exports to 136 countries
  • 31 December 1958
  • For the first time in the history of Daimler-Benz AG, company sales exceed DM 2 billion. Export sales come to DM 965.4 million, 30 % more than in the previous year and equal to 44.9 % of overall sales. Exports go to 136 countries with a total of more than 2,000 sales and service outlets.
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