China Open Confirms Mercedes-Benz
(www.chinaopen.cn)
Updated: 2004-09-16 17:41

The China Open announced today it has entered into a significant long-term agreement with renowned, luxury car manufacturer Mercedes-Benz. An independent brand of the world’s premier car company Daimler Chrysler AG, Mercedes-Benz becomes the Official Car of the China Open.

The German-based sponsor is a quintessential backer of Beijing’s world-class tennis event. Mercedes-Benz pursues its exemplary reputation by promoting its global presence, technical excellence, quality standards, and ground-breaking impact. One of the company’s founders, Gottlieb Daimler, in 1886, set the mission of Mercedes-Benz that resonates today, “The best or nothing at all.”

“For the China Open, the sponsorship of Mercedes-Benz places an exclamation on the reputation the Event is gathering globally. With over a century of innovation, quality, and technologically sound vehicles, Mercedes-Benz sets a precedent for the China Open experience. Just as Mercedes-Benz holds its standards of excellence high for its customers, the China Open wishes to serve the Chinese population with a superior quality tennis event,” said Mr. Lincoln Venancio tournament director of China Open.

Though Mercedes-Benz is a sponsor of the ATP Tour, the car company’s sponsorship engulfs the totality of the China Open, including the WTA Tour. Understanding the expectations of tournament organizers, Mercedes-Benz recognized the reality of the vision China Open organizers had in mind. “Mercedes-Benz comprehends the unlimited potential of the Chinese market, which is the same belief we have for the China Open,” said Mr. Lincoln Venancio. The China Open aims to become one of the world’s top five tennis tournaments, Asia’s premier sports event, and the leading event in China’s preparations for the 2008 Olympics.

Following record sales of passenger cars in China for the first six months of 2004, Prof. Jurgen Hubbert, Member of the Board of Management of Daimler Chrysler AG, who is responsible for the Mercedes Car Group, stated, “The outstanding result for the first half of the year makes us confident that we can successfully implement our long-term growth plans in China.”

Further, Daimler Chrysler Chairman Jurgen Schrempp believes, “In the future our intensified involvement in China will help ensure that we take even better advantage of the many business opportunities in the world’s fast-growing automotive market.”

After meeting with Chinese Premier Wen Jabao earlier this spring, Mercedes-Benz plans to build a new facility in Beijing which will produce C-class and E-class luxury sedans. The Daimler Chrysler Chairman added, “Establishing a manufacturing presence for Mercedes-Benz factory cars in Asia, is a key part of our Asia strategy, and further complements our activities in the Chinese market.”

The China Open will be held from September 10-26 at the state-of-the-art Beijing Tennis Centre. It features the world’s best ATP players, including former French Open champions Juan Carlos Ferrero and Carlos Moya, former US Open champion Marat Safin, Top 10 stars David Nalbandian and Rainer Schuettler, and Asian No. 1 Paradorn Srichaphan. The WTA field includes China's new tennis star Zheng Jie, newly crowned Queen of Wimbledon Maria Sharapova, and 14 time Grand Slam champion Serena Williams.