March

The 100,000th M-Class is completed at the production plant in Tuscaloosa, Alabama/USA. On 9 March the successful Mercedes-Benz model series is presented with the coveted "World Car Award" at the Geneva Motor Show, recognising it as the vehicle best equipped to deal with driving conditions on all five inhabited continents of the Earth.

In the Eco-Sprinter and Eco-Speedster, Mercedes-Benz presents to the press two near-series studies of the Micro Compact Car that will come on the market four years later under the name smart. Mercedes also outlines the use of alternative drive systems, including an electrically powered version with sodium-nickel chloride battery and a hybrid variant with a combination of diesel engine and electric motor.

At a press trial drive event for the new E-Class in Madrid, Mercedes-Benz also presents the special-protection variant of the 212 series. The new Guard model, which can be ordered from 31 March, marks the continuation of eight decades of expertise at in developing and building special-protection vehicles.

The E-Class of the 212 series celebrates its motor show premiere at the Geneva Motor Show. Making its debut there at the same time is the E-Class Coupé (207 series), which melds the virtues of the saloon with the fascination and elegance of a coupé. A new highlight in the range of luxury saloons under the Maybach brand is also introduced in the form of the Maybach Zeppelin. This car, production of which is limited to 100 models, takes the absolute top spot in the high-end luxury saloon category. Two smart models also celebrate their world premiere in Geneva: the near-series fortwo BRABUS electric drive show car, featuring a lithium-ion battery, and the "edition limited three" special model based on the smart fortwo mhd passion.

The SLK 55 AMG makes its first appearance as official Formula One Safety Car at the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne. The C 55 AMG Estate also makes its debut as the new Medical Car.

The new R 129 Roadster series, featuring the 300 SL, 300 SL-24 and 500 SL models, celebrates its world premiere at the Geneva Motor Show. The most important innovations are the electro-hydraulically operated top, the roll-over bar that extends automatically if the car threatens to overturn, and the integral seat. The new SL models are the first Mercedes-Benz production cars equipped with four-valve six-cylinder and eight-cylinder engines. The 300 SL-24 has the 162 kW / 220 hp 3-liter in-line six-cylinder M 104 unit, and the 500 SL has the 5-litreV8 M 119 with 240 kW / 326 hp. The sporty 190 E 2.5-16 Evolution (201 series) is also premiered. To homologate the Group A racing touring car it will be produced in a 500-unit limited edition and made available from the end of March.

The stylistically and technically refined 140 series S-Class saloons are presented at the Geneva Motor Show. The S 420 Coupé also celebrates its world premiere, adding a third model to the range of S-Class coupés. Two debuts are made in the E-Class (124 series): the E 200 Convertible and the highly exclusive 500-unit special edition E 500 Limited model.

Daimler-Benz Board of Management member Prof. Hans Scherenberg accepts the "1974 Car of the Year" award on the eve of the Geneva Motor Show. An international jury made up of 45 trade journalists had in January awarded the coveted prize to the car models 450 SE and 450 SEL ( 116 series), as well as the 450 SL and 450 SLC (107 series).

The newly developed Mercedes-Benz 220 (internally designated 220 a, W 180) with "Ponton" body and the revised 300 (internally designated 300 b, W 186) with uprated engine make their debut at the Geneva Motor Show. The luxury model 220 a, which marks the introduction of the single-joint swing axle in passenger car construction, replaces the 220 (W 187) from 1951.

The Geneva Motor Show hosts the world premiere of the new Mercedes-Benz CL Coupé from the C 215 series. It is the world's first production car to be equipped with the active suspension system Active Body Control (ABC). The top-of-the-range CL 600 debuts with the 270 kW / 367 hp 5.8-litre power plant from the new V12 M 137 series, which features three-valve technology, dual ignition and automatic cylinder shutoff (CSO). In the CLK 55 AMG, Mercedes-AMG presents an especially powerful variant of the CLK Coupé (208 series). Also having their first showing are the facelifted V-Class (638 series) and the armoured special-protection version of the S-Class. The special-protection variants of the E-Class, S-Class and G-Class bear the new designation Mercedes-Benz Guard. Micro Compact Car smart GmbH presents the diesel variant of the smart City Coupé, scheduled for launch at the end of the year.

Mercedes-Benz presents the new dynamic handling control system in the Swedish town of Arjeplog. Developed in cooperation with Bosch, it celebrates its market launch a year later as the Electronic Stability Program (ESP) and represents a further milestone in the development of active safety features for cars.

The A-Class-based fuel cell powered NECAR 4, which establishes a new milestone for alternative drive systems, debuts in Washington, D.C. The fuel cell system, which operates on liquefied hydrogen and has a 40 % higher capacity compared with its NECAR 3 predecessor, is completely accomodated in the underfloor of the A-Class. The vehicle attains a top speed of 145 km/h, can travel up to 450 kilometres on one tank and has space for five passengers and their luggage.

Mercedes-Benz introduces a new truck navigation system ex factory for the Atego, Axor and Actros model ranges. The new system takes account of specific commercial vehicle considerations such as weight restrictions, overhead clearance and restrictions on access to inner-city areas.

Wilhelm Bauer wins the Nice - Magagnosc - Nice touring race held during Nice Week in a Daimler Phoenix two-seater racing car. Bauer covers the 85-km route at an average speed of 34.7 km/h. Success proves elusive, however, in both the speed event and the Nice - La Turbie hillclimb. Back in Cannstatt, Emil Jellinek – who had entered the Daimler driven by Bauer under his pseudonym "Mercédès" – subsequently insists on the development of a new car which will guarantee victory the following year.

Mercedes-Benz presents the "Paintwork 2000" project to the press at the Sindelfingen plant. Its purpose is to gradually switch the Bremen, Sindelfingen and Rastatt passenger car assembly plants to environment-friendly water-based paints by 1998. Apart from emissions reduction, the emphasis is on reducing pollutive residues and wastewater.

The debitel share is listed for the first time on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange. The emission volume comes to about € 700 million. With a capitalisation of approximately DM 6 billion, debitel is one of the biggest German IPO's of recent years. The IPO results in the widespread scattering of around 20 % of the share capital of debitel AG.

The Mercedes-Benz Gallery, with an exhibition area of around 400 sq m over two floors, opens at Odeonsplatz in Munich. The appeal of the Mercedes-Benz Galleries, further examples of which are to open both in Germany and elsewhere, lies in their attractive inner-city locations with a high level of footfall and their aesthetically sophisticated patial and design concept.

Carl Benz applies for a patent in France for an improved version of the controlled flame ignition which he developed for his two-stroke gas engine. His invention is protected by French patent no. 161 209.

The Sauber-Mercedes C 13 takes the start for the first time at the Formula One race in Interlagos, Brazil. It marks Mercedes-Benz's return to Formula One racing after 40 years, as supplier of engines to the Sauber Team. The 3.5-litre V10 four-valve engine weighs only 122.6 kg and develops over 515 kW / 700 hp.

The Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne, the first race of the Formula One season, marks the first time that three teams with engines from Mercedes-Benz are in the starting line-up. In addition to Vodafone McLaren-Mercedes, the two other teams - Brawn GP and Force India - also rely on the 2.4-litre V8 engines built by Mercedes-Benz High Performance Engines in Brixworth, UK. Jenson Button wins the opening race in a Brawn BGP 001 racing car, as well as five out of the next six grand prix races.