OREANDA-NEWS. Last weekend Mercedes-Benz began a series of events to launch of the new S-Class in China. An excited audience of over 2,000 customers, dealers, brand ambassadors and other guests witnessed the launch ceremony hosted by Hubertus Troska, Daimler's Board Member responsible for Greater China, and Nicholas Speeks, President and CEO of Beijing Mercedes-Benz Sales Service Co., at Shanghai's Mercedes-Benz Arena. The all new S-Class is now available for Chinese customers at Mercedes-Benz dealerships nationwide.

Hubertus Troska: "The market introduction of the new S-Class marks another important milestone for Mercedes-Benz's sustainable growth strategy in China. Only weeks after the new S-Class' sensational start of sales in European markets, we are bringing this fantastic product to China, more proof of our commitment to the market and our customers. I am convinced that the new model will continue its successful path here."

Since the European launch of sales in May this year, Daimler has already received over 30,000 orders for the new S-Class worldwide.

Beginning in 2009 China has been the biggest market for the S-Class. Over 150,000 units of the previous generation S-Class were delivered to Chinese customers between 2005 and 2013, with over 33,000 units last year alone. With the new S-Class, Mercedes-Benz aims to strengthen its leading position and furthermore increase its market share in this key sales market.

"The first Mercedes-Benz ever sold in China was an S-Class and especially for Chinese customers the S-Class has remained the paragon of modern automotive luxury and the dream of China's increasingly confidant, assertive and successful entrepreneurial class," commented Nicholas Speeks. "The all new S-Class will, like its predecessors, set a new benchmark for the auto industry and contribute strongly to Mercedes-Benz' future in this country."

To understand their needs better, Chinese customers were for the first time invited to the U.S. and Germany to experience the new S-Class' car clinics and provide their feedback to Mercedes-Benz's experts during an early stage of the development process. As a result, the all new S-Class is tailored to the Chinese customer's specific requirements.

Chinese customers have special needs for the back seat design and pay special attention to the interior ambiance, seeking both modern luxury and comfort. In fact, only a long-wheelbase version is offered in China. And for the first time ever this version has been the standard for the development process of Mercedes-Benz's engineering team. So it has been assured that the customers will be seating always in the first row, even in the rear seats.

At the press driving events in Canada and Austria this summer, numerous media representatives from China got behind the wheel of the new S-Class and the S 63 AMG. And, like everywhere else in the world, the S-Class is also getting from Chinese media promising reviews, not least because of the model's innovative technologies and unparalleled levels of luxury and comfort.