Employees celebrate 125 years of the inventor of the automobile: "Anniversary Night" at the Mercedes-Benz plant in Untertürkheim

Stuttgart – It was one of the highlights of the celebrations marking the 125th anniversary of the automobile: the party for employees and their families at the Mercedes-Benz plant in Untertürkheim. Around 90,000 guests accepted the invitation to the "Anniversary Night."

Dr. Dieter Zetsche, Chairman of the Board of Management of Daimler AG and Head of Mercedes-Benz Cars, thanked the employees in a video message: "The main plant in Untertürkheim is not only the birthplace of mobility. The people who work here are the driving force behind progress, the economy, and the region. This is where the pioneering spirit is at home."

Peter Schabert, Head of the Untertürkheim plant, opened the anniversary celebrations at the plant in the afternoon: "Untertürkheim and its workforce have been at the heart of the company for over a hundred years. Today, we would like to thank our employees for their passion and ongoing commitment. We look forward to a continued successful future."

A varied stage and street program was offered along Mercedesstraße at the Untertürkheim plant from 3 p.m. until late at night. Employees and their families were encouraged to get moving with a variety of interactive activities: physical exertion and singing skills were required, whether in the Argentine tango workshop with "Enrique y Judita" or in the talent contest "Untertürkheim sucht die Daimler-Stars" (Untertürkheim searches for Daimler stars). There were also plenty of opportunities for the little ones to let off steam: games and action were provided, whether it was go-karting or puppet theater. The knowledge quiz at 12 mini-cinemas required some brainpower. There were three high-quality bicycles from the MB Collection to be won. In the Genius workshop "Alternative Drive Systems – Fuel Cells," young explorers experimented with miniature versions of future vehicles, while guests were able to test drive the current smart electric drive or the Vito E-CELL on the test track to see how suitable they are for everyday use. Another thrilling driving experience was offered by bus rides on the steep curve of the test track.

In collaboration with Südwestrundfunk, the factory was transformed into a festival site with five stages for one day. There was something for every musical taste: on the "Daimler" main stage below the high-rise building, SWR comedian Andreas Müller kept the crowd entertained. The "Fangio" stage on the opposite side paid tribute to disco hits from the 70s and 80s. On the "Mercedes" stage, the SWR1 band played songs that had been selected in advance in an employee hit parade. The Maybach stage was the destination for numerous pop fans, while the younger generation competed against each other in a talent contest on the Benz stage to be crowned the Daimler Star. Top-class artists such as Frida Gold and Laith Al-Deen thrilled the audience. Later in the evening, an artistic light and laser show on the high-rise building amazed the audience. The celebrations continued until after midnight.