45 years ago

Event25

Prinz takes over the reins at the company

Prinz takes over the reins at the company

1 January 1980
Succeeding Prof. Joachim Zahn, Dr Gerhard Prinz takes over as Chairman of the Board of Management of Daimler-Benz AG.

European sales network enlarged

1 January 1980
Daimler-Benz steps up its activities in major European export markets. In Switzerland, the company ups its stake in MERF...

Environment-friendly technology in road testing

Environment-friendly technology in road testing

11 - 15 February 1980
Daimler-Benz presents a number of test vehicles with environment-friendly technologies at the international "ENVITEC – E...

Eight-cylinder light-alloy engines are presented at the Geneva Motor Show

Eight-cylinder light-alloy engines are presented at the Geneva Motor Show

6 - 16 March 1980
The new 380 SL/SLC and 500 SL/SLC (107 series) models are presented at the Geneva Motor Show, equipped with eight-cylin...

Specializing on axles: Kassel plant

Specializing on axles: Kassel plant

April 1980
After 55 years and production totalling 155,892 vehicles – 111,555 from the Henschel and Hanomag-Henschel brands – truck...

25,000th Mercedes-Benz commercial vehicle handed over to the German Postal Service

12 May 1980
At the Wörth plant, the Chairman of the Board of Management of Daimler-Benz AG, Dr Gerhard Prinz, presents the 25,000th...

New models from the mid-range 123 series

New models from the mid-range 123 series

9 - 14 June 1980
Mercedes-Benz presents to the press new models from the mid-range 123 series equipped with in-line four-cylinders from t...

Bad Homburg celebrates production jubilee

25 June 1980
The Bad Homburg plant manufactures its 100-millionth valve and its 110-millionth valve guide.

Anti-lock braking system for all models

Anti-lock braking system for all models

4 August 1980
The anti-lock braking system (ABS) is available for all passenger car models in the Mercedes-Benz product range.

Commercial vehicle plant in Nigeria

8 August 1980
The Anambra Motor Manufacturing Co., Ltd. (ANAMMCO) plant in Enugu, Nigeria, is officially opened. Daimler-Benz has a 4...

Quick-start system becomes standard equipment of all diesel passenger cars

August 1980
Mercedes-Benz extends the standard equipment of all diesel passenger cars with a quick-start system that significantly...

116 series: last unit goes to the Museum collection

116 series: last unit goes to the Museum collection

August 1980
The 473,035th and last unit of the 116-series S-Class introduced in 1972 comes off the production line at the Sindelfing...

MB-trac 1500 presented

MB-trac 1500 presented

12 - 18 September 1980
The MB-trac 1500 (443-series) is presented as the new flagship model of the heavy-duty series at the DLG exhibition in...

Plant opened in Virginia, USA

Plant opened in Virginia, USA

18 September 1980
The American subsidiary Mercedes-Benz of North America opens a new plant in Hampton-Newport News, Virginia/USA, where up...

O-Bahn starts in Essen

O-Bahn starts in Essen

28 September 1980
The O-Bahn sets off on its first scheduled regular service journey within the public transport network of Essen, Germany...

New van models from Spain

New van models from Spain

September 1980
With the MB 100 and MB 130 models, the Spanish subsidiary MEVOSA unveils a series of Mercedes-Benz light vans manufactu...

New heavy-duty construction site vehicles

New heavy-duty construction site vehicles

2 - 12 October 1980
Mercedes-Benz extends its range of heavy-duty construction site vehicles with new models presented at the Paris Motor S...

New economy record for apprentices from Untertürkheim

4/5 October 1980
In the International Fuel Economy Competition in the Swiss town of Veltheim, Untertürkheim apprentice Jutta Lange sets a...

Electric van tested in everyday use

Electric van tested in everyday use

13 - 20 October 1980
Daimler-Benz presents the electric hybrid bus OE 305 and the 307 E electrically-driven van to an international audience...

New Haus Lämmerbuckel dedicated

New Haus Lämmerbuckel dedicated

30 October 1980
Daimler-Benz's new "Haus Lämmerbuckel" training centre is officially opened. The new centre meets the demand for basic a...

Daimler-Benz realigns Spanish operations

4 November 1980
Daimler-Benz AG increases its holding in the Spanish firm MEVOSA to 52.77 %. On 2 April 1981 the company is renamed Mer...

Production milestone for O 303 coach series

Production milestone for O 303 coach series

7 November 1980
The 100,000th Mercedes-Benz bus produced at the Mannheim plant since the war – an O 303 luxury long-distance high-deck c...

New "Popemobile" based on the 230 G cross-country vehicle

New "Popemobile" based on the 230 G cross-country vehicle

15 - 19 November 1980
Daimler-Benz places a "Popemobile" at the disposal of Pope John Paul II for his visit to Germany. Specially developed f...

Rally participation ends with a double victory in Africa

Rally participation ends with a double victory in Africa

9 - 14 December 1980
In the Bandama Rally, now officially known as the Rallye Côte d'Ivoire, the teams of Björn Waldegaard/Hans Thorszelius...

One million trucks: jubilee at Wörth plant

One million trucks: jubilee at Wörth plant

22 December 1980
The Wörth plant produces the one-millionth truck, a 1633 model with 243 kW / 330 hp engine and a permissible gross vehi...