Part 1: Mercedes-AMG GmbH Philosophy

Press Release

The History of Mercedes-AMG GmbH

Hans Werner Aufrecht (A) and Erhard Melcher (M) found their company at the Old Mill in Großaspach (G), giving it the official title "Engineering office for the Design and Testing of Racing Engines".

The first major sporting triumph for AMG: the AMG Mercedes 300 SEL 6.9 driven by Hans Heyer and Clemens Schickendanz creates a surprise by winning in its class at the Spa 24 Hours and finishing second overall.

The Old Mill in Großaspach has become too small for the company, which now boasts customers all over the world. AMG and its 40 staff move to Affalterbach.

AMG partners Daimler-Benz in its motor racing comeback in the German Touring Car Masters.

AMG is the most successful team in the German Touring Car Championship: Klaus Ludwig and Johnny Cecotto score seven wins.

AMG’s Plant III is opened in Affalterbach. The company now has a staff of 400 and a cooperation agreement with Daimler-Benz, which extends beyond the motor racing sphere.

AMG driver Klaus Ludwig takes the German Touring Car Championship title.

The first vehicle jointly developed on the basis of the cooperation agreement with Daimler-Benz goes on the market: the Mercedes C 36 AMG. The name AMG is so widely known that the Patent Office registers it as a trademark.

Once again Klaus Ludwig for AMG is the champion driver in the German Touring Car Championship. The US version of the Mercedes C 36 AMG is developed and type-approved in ten months.

An AMG driver takes the German Touring Car Championship title for the third time, as well as winning the first ever ITC title. In both cases the driver is Bernd Schneider.

AMG is runner-up in the International Touring Car Championship with Bernd Schneider. At the Geneva Motor Show, AMG unveils the E 50 AMG and makes the transition from a component plant to a component and vehicle plant.

AMG celebrates new production milestones with 5000 units of the C 36 AMG and 2000 units of the E 50 AMG. The successor models, the C 43 AMG and E 55 AMG, are launched following the IAA Frankfurt Motor Show. Bernd Schneider in the Mercedes CLK-GTR is champion driver and AMG Mercedes takes the team title in the FIA GT championship.

A road-going version of the CLK-GTR is built in a limited edition of 25 units. AMG-Mercedes wins all ten races in the FIA GT Championship. Klaus Ludwig and Ricardo Zonta take the championship title.

Mercedes-AMG GmbH commences business on 01.01.99. The company is jointly managed by Dr. Wolfgang Bernhard (President) and Domingos Piedade. Some 5000 vehicles are sold world-wide.

Sales reach a record level of 11,500 vehicles, the most popular model being the ML 55 AMG with over 4500 units sold. Ulrich Bruhnke becomes President.

Sales record broken again: 18,500 Mercedes-AMG models are sold. Most popular model is the C 32 AMG with around 3800 vehicles sold. Market launch of the SL 55 AMG with 350 kW/476 hp.

The number of staff increases to around 540, market launch of the CLK 55 AMG.