For Dr. Dieter Zetsche, the award as "Most Innovative Automotive Brand" is an important confirmation of the long term corporate and product strategies: "Our pioneering spirit is undiminished. We invented the automobile and, since that time, have registered patents for around 90,000 improvements - more than any other premium manufacturer. In the last year alone, we registered an average of nine patents each working day."
With new models in all segments and continuous improvements being made in terms of efficiency, the company remains on course for sustainable and profitable growth. With its CLA model, Mercedes-Benz created a whole new segment – proving, in impressive style, that good design and excellent aerodynamics are far from being contradictory. In fact, the new CLA is the world record holder among production vehicles with a cd value of only 0.22! Mercedes-Benz is the world champion for aerodynamics in almost all vehicle classes.
The first place achieved in the category "active and passive Safety Systems" once again reconfirms the company's leading status in the field of safety. And with the new S-Class, the bar will once again be set even higher. Numerous new systems, grouped together under the term "Mercedes-Benz Intelligent Drive", make the new flagship model from Mercedes-Benz even more comfortable and safer than ever.
During the presentation of the prize for active and passive safety systems, Dr. Dieter Zetsche commented: "Our vision is 'accident-free driving': our aim is to reduce the workload of the "guardian angels" of road traffic - with safety systems that continuously become more and more perfect. In the future, our cars will be able to see in all directions. Our new S-Class and E-Class also recognise cross traffic – pedestrians, cyclists and of course other cars. And, they do so much more quickly than humans are able to."
The AutomotiveINNOVATIONS Award 2013 conferred by the Center of Automotive Management (CAM) in conjunction with the accounting and management consultancy firm PwC, rewards outstanding innovative achievement in the automotive industry in eight categories: Most Innovative Automotive Company, Most Innovative Automotive Brand, and Most Innovative Automotive Company in following fields of technology: Conventional Drive Systems, Alternative Drive Systems, Alternative Drive System in Production Vehicles, active and passive Safety Systems, Vehicle Information and Communication Systems and Vehicle Concepts.