National Press Release

STUTTGART, Germany, June 4 /PRNewswire/ -- Mercedes-Benz is one of the most successful auto brands in this year's Initial Quality Study conducted by U.S. market research company J.D. Power and Associates. The Stuttgart car brand receives two model awards for the highest vehicle quality in their respective market segments and is also honoured with the Platinum Plant Quality worldwide award. This outstanding result is one outcome of the initiative launched by Mercedes-Benz to raise customer satisfaction and product quality.

In conducting the annual study, market researchers investigate the satisfaction of U.S. customers with new vehicle purchases after the first 90 days and evaluate the quality of both the concept and execution of the vehicle. Overall, Mercedes-Benz moved up one place against last year from fifth to fourth in the brand-level ranking, and three Mercedes-Benz models (CLK, E and S-Class) are ranked within the top three of their respective segments.

This year, the E-Class and the CLK each receive J.D. Power and Associates Awards. These models are the vehicles with the highest level of initial quality in their respective market segments. Furthermore, Mercedes' Sindelfingen plant receives the Platinum Award, making it the assembly facility with the highest delivered quality worldwide for vehicles sold in the U.S. market.

Further information on Mercedes-Benz can be found in the internet: http://www.media.daimler.com

SOURCE Mercedes-Benz