Daimler Financial Services Helps Texas Auto Writers Association Kick Off Spring Challenge at New Facility in Fort Worth

FORT WORTH, Texas, April 30 -- Daimler Financial Services provided the launching pad to help the Texas Auto Writers Association (TAWA) kick off its annual Spring Challenge driving event April this week. The automotive financial services company hosted 35 reporters and editors at its new 164,000 square-foot operations center in the Alliance Texas commercial development along I-35W near the Texas Motor Speedway.

"Last year at this event we told you we were expanding our presence in Texas, but that was before construction had started," said Janet Marzett, Vice President of Customer Service, Collections and Remarketing for Daimler Financial Services. "This year we wanted to invite you here to our new home in North Texas to see exactly how we expanded."

Marzett noted that the operations center, which opened last Fall and houses 650 employees with capacity for 800, contributed positive economic impact to the North Texas region of $115 million in the first 12 months since the start of construction and $48.5 million annually going forward, according to Insight Research of Dallas.

Marzett, Mark Ingram, Vice President of Sales & Field Operations, and Christian Middelhauve, Senior Manager Operational Excellence, and a team of Daimler Financial employees welcomed the TAWA journalists to a buffet lunch, and a display of brand new Mercedes-Benz products: the 2010 E Class sedan, the 2010 GLK 350, and the high-performance SL 63 AMG.

Additionally, the TAWA members were given tours of "Experiencing Perspectives" the fine arts exhibit in the Daimler Financial building featuring the works of TCU and SMU students, faculty and graduates. The event was highlighted by helicopter rides over the Alliance Texas commercial development, provided by Hillwood, the development company of Alliance Texas.

Harold Gunn, President of TAWA and host of the Houston-based Automotive Reporter Radio Syndicate, praised Daimler Financial for its outreach to TAWA members.

"This is an impressive facility and a great way for our members who come from all over Texas to get an understanding of how a captive finance company supports the manufacturer, dealers and consumers," Gunn said. "With the helicopter rides, vehicle display and seeing some of the best art work in the entire state, Daimler Financial really welcomed us into their new home."

Daimler Financial Services is one of 11 domestic and international automotive industry companies that have facilities in the Alliance Texas commercial developments near the Fort Worth Alliance Airport.

"Automotive companies account for 8 percent of the Alliance Texas development," said Dave Pelletier, Director of Communications for Hillwood.

In Texas, Daimler's Mercedes-Benz Financial brand has working relationships with 24 Mercedes-Benz dealers and five smart franchise dealers. The number of Mercedes-Benz dealers in Texas has grown 50 percent in the last 10 years from 16 to 24 dealerships. Of that amount, Mercedes-Benz Financial provides inventory financing for 19 dealerships and retail financing for six of every 10 new Mercedes-Benz vehicles sold in Texas.

The three highest volume dealers for Mercedes-Benz Financial in Texas are: Park Place Motorcars in Dallas, Ewing Autohaus in Plano and Mercedes-Benz of Houston Greenway.

The most popular vehicles financed by Mercedes-Benz Financial in Texas this year are: the C300, E350 and the all-new 2010 GLK 350.