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1 January 1980
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Daimler-Benz steps up its activities in major European export markets. In Switzerland, the company ups its stake in MERFAG AG to 51 % and the company, renamed Mercedes-Benz (Schweiz) AG, becomes the general distributor also for passenger cars in the country. In Austria, Daimler-Benz Österreich Vertriebsgesellschaft mbH – established in Salzburg on 22 October 1979 and in which Daimler-Benz has a 50 % holding – acts as the general distributor for passenger cars and commercial vehicles. Mercedes-Benz Belgium S.A./N.V. in Brussels and Mercedes-Benz Nederland B.V. in Utrecht are created following the takeover of the previous general distributors IMA and MATINAUTO in Belgium and AGAM and MEHACO in the Netherlands.
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11 - 15 February 1980
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Daimler-Benz presents a number of test vehicles with environment-friendly technologies at the international "ENVITEC – Environmental Protection Technology" exhibition: a noise-encapsulated 240 D, an urban bus with gyro drive, and an electric van in which particular attention was paid to reducing the cost of the electric drive system.
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April 1980
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After 55 years and production totalling 155,892 vehicles – 111,555 from the Henschel and Hanomag-Henschel brands – truck assembly is wound up at the Kassel plant. The move marks a further stage in the restructuring of the Daimler-Benz production organisation, in which Kassel becomes a central manufacturing facility for commercial vehicle axles.
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9 - 14 June 1980
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Mercedes-Benz presents to the press new models from the mid-range 123 series equipped with in-line four-cylinders from the newly developed M 102 engine series. The 200 and 230 E saloons, the 230 TE estate and the 230 CE coupé are introduced in June, and the 200 T appears in October 1980 together with the 300 TD Turbodiesel, previously presented at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September 1979.
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13 - 20 October 1980
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Daimler-Benz presents the electric hybrid bus OE 305 and the 307 E electrically-driven van to an international audience at the "Drive Electric '80" show in London. As part of a large-scale trial, 18 of these vans are put into everyday service on the streets of Berlin and Stuttgart.
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4 November 1980
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Daimler-Benz AG increases its holding in the Spanish firm MEVOSA to 52.77 %. On 2 April 1981 the company is renamed Mercedes-Benz España, S.A. As part of the restructuring of the production set-up, manufacture of assemblies is centered in Barcelona and commercial vehicle assembly concentrated in Vitoria.
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15 - 19 November 1980
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Daimler-Benz places a "Popemobile" at the disposal of Pope John Paul II for his visit to Germany. Specially developed for this purpose and based on the 230 G cross-country vehicle, the Popemobile enables optimum visibility with its Plexiglas dome, while providing protection against wind and rain.
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9 - 14 December 1980
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In the Bandama Rally, now officially known as the Rallye Côte d'Ivoire, the teams of Björn Waldegaard/Hans Thorszelius and Jorge Recalde/Nestor Straimel fend off fierce competition to take first and second place in a Mercedes-Benz 500 SLC. This success signals the end of the company's participation in rally competition.
