1996

At the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, Michigan/USA, Mercedes-Benz presents the "AAVision", a concept design study of a four-wheel-drive sport utility vehicle. This All Activity Vehicle (AAV) can be used equally well as recreational vehicle, family car, and off-roader.

The new light Vito van (638 series), crowned "Van of the Year 1996" a little earlier, is displayed to the public at the Geneva Commercial Vehicle Show, where the coveted award is presented. The refined trucks from the new Light Class also make their debut. The most important innovations are the OM 904 LA ECO POWER engines – turbocharged four-cylinder in-line engines with intercooler and three-valve technology, the first units of the new OM 900 engine family to be introduced. Other new products include the all-wheel-drive version of the Sprinter and a natural gas powered variant of the van, presented as a prototype with the designation Sprinter 314 G. Also designed for natural gas operation is the 1820 G medium-duty truck, whose 160 kW / 218 hp engine enables reduced exhaust and noise emissions compared with the basic engine with the same power rating. The O 405 GNTD, a low-floor articulated duo bus with diesel engine and electric hub drive, is displayed as a series-produced vehicle for public t

The Supervisory Board of Daimler-Benz AG approves the recommendation of the Board of Management to discontinue financial support for Dasa subsidiary Fokker following the failure of talks with the Dutch government on the future of the financially stricken aircraft manufacturer.

ABB Daimler-Benz Transportation GmbH (Adtranz), a joint-venture company founded by Daimler-Benz AG and Asea Brown Boveri (ABB) headquartered in Zurich, Switzerland, starts operating in the rail business.

Mercedes-Benz presents three world firsts as at the Geneva Motor Show: the estate versions of the C-Class (202 series) and the E-Class (210 series), as well as the V-Class multi-purpose vehicle (638 series) derived from the Vito.

Mercedes-Benz AG and the passenger car general distributor National Automotive Company (NATCO) agree a joint venture and licensing contract, which is to cover the assembly of E-Class saloons in Egypt. The company created as a result of this agreement is the production and sales firm Egyptian German Automotive Company (EGA).

The production version of the Mercedes-Benz SLK (R 170 series) is unveiled to the public at the International Motor Show in Turin. The most striking feature of the sporty, compact two-seater is the innovative vario roof. When retracted into the boot, it still permits a respectable luggage carrying capacity.

The compact Unimog UX 100 implement carrier (409 series) has its debut at IFAT, the International Trade Fair for Waste Disposal in Munich.

The Research Division of Daimler-Benz presents another car with fuel cell drive at Potsdamer Platz in Berlin. NECAR II (New Electric Car) based on the V-Class derives its energy from the controlled reaction of hydrogen and oxygen gas, in which electricity is generated. The weight and volume of the fuel cell have been reduced to such an extent that virtually the entire interior compartment of the car is available to passengers and their luggage.

The Annual Shareholders' Meeting of Daimler-Benz AG votes to reduce the par value of the Daimler-Benz share from DM 50 to DM 5. The intention is to enhance the attractiveness of the share especially for private investors and reduce barriers to variable-price trading.

The industrial management of Dornier Luftfahrt GmbH, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Dornier GmbH (Friedrichshafen), a corporate unit of Dasa, is taken over by Fairchild Aircraft Holding Inc. (San Antonio, Texas/USA). This precipitates a joint venture in which Dornier GmbH has a 20 % and Fairchild Aircraft an 80 % holding. This step represents a retreat on the part of Daimler-Benz Aerospace from direct involvement in the regional aircraft sector after financial support for Fokker was discontinued in January.

The MB 800, a light truck for short-range distribution work with a payload of up to 5.4 tonnes, celebrates its premiere at the Aksaray plant of Mercedes-Benz Türk. Equipped with the OM 364 A four-cylinder diesel engine built in Turkey, the MB 800 is earmarked for the Turkish home market and the East European markets.

AMG supplies the official Formula One Safety Car for the first time at the French Grand Prix in Magny-Cours. The silver Mercedes-Benz C 36 AMG makes an appearance whenever races are interrupted for a short period. Another vehicle of the same type also serves as official Medical Car and with Prof. Sid Watkins, the FIA’s Formula One Medical Delegate, ensures the fastest possible emergency medical aid in the event of injury to Formula One drivers or track marshals.

Under the name "Actros", Mercedes-Benz presents a heavy-duty truck series to the press which is a wholly new development and replaces the models of the SK heavy-duty class starting in October. Innovations include the powerplants from the OM 500 engine family and the electronically controlled Telligent brake system with disc brakes on all wheels.

The compact van Vito introduced in the spring is presented with an environment-friendly, locally emission-free electric drive system. A maintenance-free AEG high-energy battery designed for at least 800 charging cycles serves the 108 E as energy accumulator. As a small, compact and manoeuvrable vehicle, the electric Vito is especially suited to short-range distribution work and urban passenger transport.

Mercedes-Benz offers the C 230 and E 230 models as an optional extra with Natural Gas Technology (NGT) for bivalent operation with petrol and natural gas. Natural gas permits very environment-friendly, economical operation.

German Chancellor Dr Helmut Kohl and Argentinean State President Carlos Menem inaugurate a new van plant in Buenos Aires, in which the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter will be produced.

The F 200 Imagination coupé study is presented at the Paris Motor Show, unveiling a wide range of technical innovations. The fully operational experimental vehicle causes a sensation, largely on account of its lack of steering wheel and pedals.

Two third places in a Mercedes-Benz 1834 S at the final race of the season in Jarama, Spain, are enough to earn Steve Parrish the Super Race Truck European Championship crown – his fifth career win of the European Truck Racing Championship.

In Rastatt the last of 36,464 210-series E-Class saloons is completed. This spells the end of E-Class production in Rastatt after over four years and a total 134,420 units of the 124 and 210 series. The assembly building is now converted to manufacture the A-Class.