The last remnants of the merger between Daimler and Chrysler that occurred seven years ago has finally been put out to pasture with the announcement today of a new name for the German automaker. Shareholders voted today on the new name 'Daimler AG', but to keep a connection with co-founder Carl Friedrich Benz, the Mercedes Car Group will be renamed 'Mercedes-Benz Cars.'
If all this is getting a little confusing, just remember that Daimler is responsible for the Mercedes-Benz luxury division as well as the trucking and van businesses, while Mercedes is in charge of the luxury car unit as well as the Smart and Maybach brands.
There was never any doubt that the new company would be called Daimler, but nobody was sure what would happen to the Benz name. Other places it will appear in is the new commercial van division, which becomes Mercedes-Benz Vans, as well as the banking group that's now labeled Mercedes-Benz Bank.
[Source: Automotive News - sub. req'd]
