All eyes on Mercedes

Retailers are waiting to see what impact the appointment of Mercedes Car Group’s new chief executive, Dieter Zetsche, will have on the UK network when he assumes the role on September 1.

The appointment follows a turbulent chapter in the car maker’s history, with product re-calls, allegations of insider trading and senior management changes at parent company DaimlerChrysler.

Richard Jackson, chairman Mercedes-Benz North Yorkshire, says: “It was definitely time for a change. We hope the new pair of hands will have a positive influence.”

Zetsche who replaces Juergen Shcrempp as DaimlerChrysler chief executive at the beginning of next year, assumes the role as head of Mercedes Car Group following the departure of Eckhard Cordes.