60 Years of Mercedes-Benz Argentina.

2011 has been a year of celebration for Mercedes-Benz. 125 years ago on January 29th, Karl Friedrich Benz created the first car, and on July 24th was the centennial of Juan Manuel Fangio's birth, former Honorary President of Mercedes-Benz Argentina.

On September 6th, 1951 Mercedes-Benz Argentina was founded and this year marks 60 years since the brand landed in our country.

The manufacturing plant of González Catán, Buenos Aires, was the first Mercedes-Benz plant in the world based outside of Germany. Since then, Mercedes-Benz Argentina embarked on a path of steady growth and constant production. Today the plant holds a production capacity of 600 units per month.

In 1954 Headquarters were inaugurated in Capital Federal and in 1959, plant II in San Martín. In 1963 the unit N°10.000 was produced and in 1968 the Unimog was launched into the market.

Juan Manuel Fangio is appointed Honorary President of Mercedes-Benz Argentina in 1974, position he held until his death in 1995.

Mercedes-Benz Argentina launches the new frontal buses with rear engine  in 1987, replacing the classic short-nose buses. That same year the manufacture of the 50.000th Bus is celebrated in González Catán, this plant would become in 1993 a high technology center named Juan Manuel Fangio Industrial Center, after a $100 million investment.

On May 6th, 1997 the contract which defined the union between Daimler-Benz AG and the Chrysler Corporation is signed, finally on May 3, 2000 DaimlerChrysler Argentina S.A. is formed. In November that same year, the 50.000th unit of the commercial vehicle Sprinter is produced  and one year later the right side steering wheel version intended for export to markets in Australia, South Africa and New Zeland. $10 million are invested to produce 1.500 Sprinter for those countries.

Mercedes-Benz Argentina on the eve of their 60 years in the Argentine market, just announced the addition of a second production shift in their Juan Manuel Fangio Industrial Center, adding 250 new members to the 1.500 employees of Mercedes-Benz Argentina.

In its productive history, Mercedes-Benz manufactured in Argentina:
> 130.000 Trucks
> 100.000 Buses
> 200.000 Sprinter

Without doubt, this 2011 Mercedes-Benz Argentina has plenty to celebrate.