Mercedes Benz

OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE

Stuttgart, Germany, Dec 22, 2010

2010 draws to a successful close for the Mercedes-Benz Museum: 650,000 visitors came through the doors this year. Since its inauguration in May 2006, well over 3.4 million people have experienced 125 years of the automobile in the Mercedes-Benz Museum. Not only has the total number of visitors increased in 2010, but foreign visitors accounted for 27 percent, almost double the previous figure.


"The fact we've managed to again increase the number of visitors in our fifth year makes us proud", says Michael Bock, Head of Mercedes-Benz Classic. "It shows that our concept is spot on. Apart from the tour through the past, present and future of the automobile, we have hosted various exciting special exhibitions and numerous events in 2010."

In addition to the likes of the successful special exhibition devoted to super sports cars, large-scale events have turned the Museum into a magnet for visitors. For the first time, the Mercedes-Benz Museum was the main venue for jazzopen stuttgart in July. Together with the lounge on the hill in front of the Museum and the open-air cinema, the atmospheric open-air concerts went down as the Museum highlights in the summer of 2010. The Mercedes-Benz starry nights in February, July and October along with the popular Sunday brunch provided the culinary highlights. The Helpers' week in August and the Collectors' Fair in November proved popular among car enthusiasts. The world of sport focused its attention on the Museum on two exciting occasions this year: following the presentation of the new Mercedes GP Petronas Formula 1 team, the German Football Association (DFB) presented its World Cup squad in the Mercedes-Benz Museum in May.

Just under 3500 groups enjoyed a tour of the Museum this year. Tour options range from the conventional car tour to specialised tours focusing on architecture, motorsport, commercial vehicles, technology, or even an after-hours tour. Over 3800 groups visited the Museum without taking a tour, of which 1900 were school trips involving over 59,000 children. Teachers and school children benefited from additional resources in 2010: six different booklets, with the content geared specifically to the curricula of the State of Baden-Württemberg, provide a structure to the visit through automotive history by focussing on various key areas. The schools' material is available for various levels.

"The growth in international visitors is particularly pleasing. Visitors from 158 different countries came through the doors this year – an area we intend to build upon even more next year", says Michael Bock. "With the 125th anniversary of the automobile, the Mercedes-Benz Museum will become the place to visit for guests from around the world in 2011. At the start of the year, we will be opening an entirely revamped room which is devoted to the innovation topic of alternative and optimised drive systems." From May onwards, the Museum will be host to the Daimler art collection in the shape of the Art & Stars & Cars special exhibition, the Mercedes-Benz Museum will be celebrating its fifth anniversary, with the Automobilsommer – a series of summer events with an automotive flavour – set to follow. Michael Bock: "As the inventor of the automobile, the anniversary is a really exciting time for us."

The Mercedes-Benz Museum is open daily from Tuesday to Sunday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. The Museum will be closed on 31 December 2010 and on New Year's Day. For further information please call +49 (0)7 11 / 17 - 30 000 or go online at www.mercedes-benz-classic.com .

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