What does one do when automotive sales start to go south? Duh, expand the brand to include the production of non-car related items. This isn’t a new concept by any means. It is actually pretty prevalent among manufacturers who decide there isn’t enough money in the car selling business. Timepieces, luggage, apparel->ke2331, and other items flood the internet with car names branded on them like cattle.
Mercedes->ke187 is obviously no different and with their development of the “Mercedes Style Division”, they can now make just about whatever they want.
"Our unique design expertise is appreciated throughout the world. We have therefore decided to establish the Mercedes-Benz specific styling outside the automotive field too – and so far we have met with a very positive response from a great number of manufacturers in a variety of sectors", explains Professor h.c. Gorden Wagener, Head of Design at Mercedes-Benz.
One of their new creations is the exclusive interior appointments of a helicopter. It was presented as the first product at the European Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition 2010 (EBACE) in Geneva on May 4, 2010. Their second project was the exterior design of a luxury yacht.
Anyone with a large enough cash flow can take advantage of the new “Mercedes Style Division” as they will be doing commissioned work with rights to the styling service being sold to the product manufacturer or with the use of design licenses where the customer will be able to use the design, but all rights will remain with Mercedes-Benz.
Press release after the jump.
Press Release
The designers at Mercedes-Benz will be styling other products in future, in addition to creating classic automotive designs. The portfolio of the newly established "Mercedes-Benz Style" division will comprise not only transport-related products, but also furniture and lifestyle products and industrial design.
"Our unique design expertise is appreciated throughout the world. We have therefore decided to establish the Mercedes-Benz specific styling outside the automotive field too – and so far we have met with a very positive response from a great number of manufacturers in a variety of sectors", explains Professor h.c. Gorden Wagener, Head of Design at Mercedes-Benz. Currently the Mercedes-Benz designers are working on styling the exclusive interior appointments of a helicopter, and also the spectacular exterior design of a luxury yacht. The helicopter will be presented as the first product at the European Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition 2010 (EBACE) in Geneva on May 4, 2010.
"Mercedes-Benz Style" undertakes both commissioned work, for which the rights to the styling service are sold to the product manufacturer, and also the allocation of design licences – in which case a product manufacturer will be granted the right to use the styling, but all rights to the styling remain with Mercedes-Benz. In both alternatives it is upon the manufacturer’s discretion whether to label its product with the designation “Mercedes-Benz Style”."Whether we are dealing with commissioned work or will grant licenses, basically the same principle applies: the product and the manufacturer must both match our premium standards and represent innovation, as well as trend-setting, enduring style", explains Gorden Wagener. Just as in the automotive field, the designers place great value on brand-typical, passionate styling for “Mercedes-Benz Style”.