Press Release
40 Years of AMG: From a Two-Man Start-Up to a Global Business
From its beginnings 40 years ago as a specialist motorsports and tuning firm, Mercedes-AMG GmbH has grown into a supplier of exclusive high-performance cars with some 750 employees, an extensive model range now comprising 16 different AMG cars, customers across the world and a brand name which has gained a high level of recognition. The company was founded back in 1967 by Hans Werner Aufrecht (A) and his partner Erhard Melcher (M), whilst Aufrecht's birthplace of Großaspach (G) supplied the third letter in the company name. The two men officially described themselves as "engineering, construction and testing specialists in the development of racing engines". The firm was based in an old mill in Burgstall (near Affalterbach).
1971: Class Victory at the ‘24 Hours of Spa’ Race Is the Breakthrough
In the early years of the company, its founders concentrated on building racing cars based on the Mercedes-Benz 300 SE and competing in European touring car races. They did not have to wait long for their breakthrough: a Mercedes-Benz 300 SEL 6.8 AMG took a surprise class victory at the 24 Hours of Spa in 1971 in Belgium, finishing in second place overall. The 315-kW/428-hp racing saloon was driven alternately by Hans Heyer and Clemens Schickentanz.
This historic victory was followed by countless successes in an extremely wide range of motorsports competitions: AMG took the DTM team title no less than five times. Bernd Schneider, Gary Paffet and Klaus Ludwig collected a total of eight DTM titles, with Schneider also taking the ITC (International Touring Car Championship) title. It was Bernd Schneider again, at the wheel of the Affalterbach team's CLK-GTR, who took the drivers' title in the inaugural FIA GT Championship in 1997, a success repeated by Klaus Ludwig and Ricardo Zonta the following year when they also won the constructors' title for Team AMG Mercedes – the CLK-GTR won all eleven races of the season.
In the current DTM, Bernd Schneider (who already has a record number of wins to his name) is committed to doing everything he can to defend his 2006 championship title in the all-new AMG Mercedes-Benz C-Class in 2007.
Outstanding Technological Achievements Boost Business
AMG's success was to spread far beyond the world of international motorsports. By the 1970s, customers were beginning to acquire a taste for more individuality in their cars, a trend which the Swabian company used to develop its business. The transfer of technology from motorsports to the series-production sector was already an integral part of the company's philosophy. AMG's ability to deliver outstanding technological achievements and first-class quality as a result of its involvement in motorsports meant that the company quickly made a name for itself and became highly respected. As a result of the aims which it had set itself, AMG soon became one of the leaders in the refinement and tuning of premium vehicles.
The Two-Man Start-Up Becomes a Medium-Sized Company
The strong demand for refined and tuned Mercedes-Benz vehicles in the late 1970s led to a steady increase in the number of orders received by AMG. The company outgrew its base in Burgstall and moved to Affalterbach in 1978. As the first Mercedes-Benz tuning company, AMG developed into a model for an entire branch of the automotive industry. The company's impact was evident at the 1981 Frankfurt Motor Show, where a total of 176 exhibitors were involved in tuning and accessories for the Mercedes-Benz brand. An important event in the history of AMG was the launch of the Mercedes-Benz 190 in 1983. The compact saloon soon became a favorite with German car tuners and helped AMG to tap into a whole new clientele.
1985: AMG Opens its Second Plant and the Workforce Grows to 100
AMG continued to expand: the company opened its second plant in 1985 and took on its 100th employee. Customers from all over the world began to come to Affalterbach, among them prominent figures from the spheres of motorsports, film, music, sport and business, not to mention royalty. Time and again, the extremely specialized requirements of these highly discerning customers resulted in exceptional projects – challenges which AMG was always ready to take on with its characteristic passion and know-how.
As an industry pioneer and trendsetter, AMG was able to draw on its ever-expanding wealth of experience to great effect. Ignoring short-lived fads, the company was already committed to its vision of securing – and maintaining – the position of world leader in its sector in terms of technology, design, sales and earnings.
Cooperation Agreement with Daimler-Benz AG in 1990
One of the key milestones in the history of AMG came in 1990, with the signing of the cooperation agreement with Daimler-Benz AG. Demand and customer acceptance were given a tremendous boost now that AMG products could be sold and maintained through Mercedes-Benz' worldwide network of company-owned sales and service outlets and sales partners. Further expansion led to the opening of a third plant in 1990 and an increase in the workforce to 400 employees. In 1993 the company unveiled the Mercedes-Benz C 36 AMG, the first jointly developed vehicle to result from the cooperation agreement. In another development the same year, the Patent Office recognized AMG as a trademark as the name was now so well known.
Incorporation into the DaimlerChrysler Group in 1999
Hans Werner Aufrecht transferred the majority shareholding in the steadily growing company to DaimlerChrysler AG on January 1, 1999. On January 1, 2001 DaimlerChrysler acquired 100 percent of the shares. This allowed the newly founded Mercedes-AMG GmbH to benefit to an even greater extent from the Group's resources and global standing. Also in 1999, the motorsports department was transferred to company founder Hans Werner Aufrecht's firm H.W.A. GmbH, located in close proximity to Mercedes-AMG GmbH. Some 200 staff now work together with Mercedes-Benz Motorsport to manage the two companies' long-standing involvement in the German Touring Car Masters (DTM) race series.
Involvement in Formula 1 with the Official F1 Safety Car
Mercedes-AMG has been an important part of the safety concept in Formula 1 for over ten years. The Official F1 Safety Car and the Official F1 Medical Car are based on the CLK 63 AMG and C 55 AMG Estate respectively. The decades of experience acquired in touring-car and GT racing play a key role in the continuous development of these two very special AMG vehicles.
Opening of the AMG Performance Studio in 2006
The opening of the AMG Performance Studio in 2006 marked the start of a new initiative to appeal to customers with very special requirements. In addition to the AMG high performance cars, which are available through the worldwide Mercedes-Benz sales organisation, the PERFORMANCE STUDIO develops and produces special AMG vehicles in exclusive, limited quantities. Offered as the Signature Series, Black Series and Editions, the unique special models stand out by virtue of their outstanding handling, race-circuit capability, technical and visual distinctiveness and exclusive equipment features, depending on the vehicle type in question. The latest product from the AMG Performance Studio is the SLK 55 AMG Black Series, a purist's lightweight version equipped with a powerful AMG 5.5-litre V8 engine with an output of 294 kW/400 hp and numerous components from the world of motorsports. As well as focusing on particularly compelling AMG vehicles, the AMG Performance Studio satisfies customers' individual requests – a traditional strength of Mercedes-AMG. These special requirements can take the form of specific technical modifications such as AMG sports suspension systems, AMG high-performance brake systems, AMG wheel/tyre combinations, locking differentials and customized interior appointments, as well as one-off models.
AMG, the High-Performance Brand Within the Mercedes Car Group
AMG – around the world, these three evocative letters embody individuality, dynamism and exclusivity. Over the last four decades, Mercedes-AMG GmbH has evolved from a tuning firm specializing in premium cars to a vehicle manufacturer in its own right. Today, AMG is the high-performance brand within the Mercedes Car Group. Mercedes-AMG GmbH specializes in unique, high-performance vehicles; its sporty saloons, SUVs, coupes, cabriolets, roadsters and specially built one-off models constitute a product portfolio which meets its customers' every wish. The highly specialized company has overall responsibility for developing the design, aerodynamics, interior and powertrain, engine, suspension, brakes and electronics – right up to granting final approval for production of the complete AMG vehicle. Mercedes-AMG GmbH is also in charge of all marketing and sales-related activities for its products, too.
Early Integration in the Strategy and Product Phases
Since its incorporation into DaimlerChrysler AG on January 1, 1999, Mercedes-AMG GmbH has been able to ensure that it is integrated in the strategy and product phases at an early stage and has also had the opportunity to make optimum use of the Group's resources when needed. New AMG high-performance models are included in the specifications book from the very start of the concept phase and run through all the steps of the development process leading to series-production maturity in the same manner as Mercedes-Benz vehicles. As well as being able to use its own high-tech test rigs, Mercedes-AMG has access to all Mercedes Car Group test facilities. Furthermore, Mercedes-AMG has its own testing center at the Nürburgring race circuit where particularly demanding AMG-specific development and test programs can be conducted on the circuit's legendary "Nordschleife" – the world's most challenging section of racetrack. The final product of this development process is always a perfectly tuned AMG vehicle.
During their development and production, all AMG products must meet the same high quality, safety and environmental standards which apply to every vehicle with the three-pointed star. And because every AMG sports car is also a genuine Mercedes-Benz, the comprehensive Mercedes service and warranty cover also applies in full to vehicles with the AMG logo.
Some 750 AMG Employees Work at the Company's Headquarters
The strength of Mercedes-AMG lies in its highly motivated employees and the consolidation of all automotive functions in a very compact organization. This ensures fast decision-making and the ability to quickly and flexibly implement the steps needed to satisfy a very broad spectrum of customers' wishes, as proven by the rapid growth of the company's model range. Mercedes-AMG also offers an extensive range of accessories and optional equipment for almost all Mercedes-Benz models.
Some 750 employees currently work at the Affalterbach headquarters of Mercedes-AMG GmbH. All are highly qualified specialists whose commitment to the highest standards of workmanship and precision is central to their own sense of professional integrity. They are motivated by performance – the concept at the very heart of the AMG brand – which represents their 100 percent commitment, every day.
