Filed under: Car Buying, Mercedes-Benz, AMG
Mercedes to open 175 AMG Performance Centers worldwide

Click above for a high-res gallery of the AMG Performance Center
In case there was any doubt that demand for big-displacement, high-output machines continues unabated in the face of calls for environmentally-conscious hybrids and a faltering global economy, Mercedes has announced an ambitious expansion of its AMG performance division. Over the course of the next year, AMG will open a whopping 175 new "performance centers" catering to power-mad consumers around the world.
The new outlets will allow an increased level of involvement for AMG customers as Mercedes moves to distinguish the tuning house's offerings as their own brand. Each outlet will be outfitted with matching décor and whatnot, but more importantly, will offer customers a direct line to AMG's performance Mecca in Affalterbach, Germany, and act as a local home base for the AMG Performance Roadshow. The expansion will focus on 15 key markets, including the United States, Japan, China, and of course, its home market of Germany. As if customers needed any more coercion to fall for a fire-breathing Teutonic masterpiece of engineering. Hit the jump for the details.
Gallery: Mercedes-Benz AMG Performance Center
PRESS RELEASE
Affalterbach – AMG, the performance brand within Mercedes-Benz Cars, is establishing 175 new AMG Performance Centers worldwide by the end of next year thus offering a more personalized service to customers. A commitment to first-class service quality at every stage in the customer relationship is one of the key elements of the AMG brand promise of "Performance". This focus on developing an even closer relationship with customers extends to a total of 15 countries. A very special brand experience is also delivered by the AMG Performance Roadshow.
The redesigned sales showrooms of the AMG Performance Centers are characterized by a consistently applied and unique AMG brand identity. Highquality materials, exclusive furnishings and a palette of colours that is representative of AMG create an exclusive atmosphere for sales discussions. An oversized AMG engine badge serves to remind visitors of the company's philosophy of "One Man – One Engine": The assembly of each powerful AMG engine by just one engineer. The individualization options available through the designo programme are also reflected at the AMG Performance Centers in the form of paintwork and leather samples.
The targeted training of AMG Sales and Service experts all over the world through a uniform coaching partner ensures first-class service delivery at every touch-point throughout the customer relationship. A 'hotline' to the home of AMG in Affalterbach also guarantees that the high standards of service expected by AMG customers can be met: Every AMG Performance Center can make direct contact with an AMG expert, should they have any questions about the product or specific configuration possibilities.
AMG Performance Roadshows with exclusive appeal
A special brand experience will be provided by a series of AMG Performance Roadshows. These exclusive events will allow some 200 customers at each of the 175 AMG Performance Centers to experience the world of AMG in more detail. Expert presenters will talk to customers and prospective customers about the history and the fascination of the AMG brand. High-performance vehicles from the current AMG range will be available for intensive test drives; while a display of exclusive vehicles from the AMG Performance Studio, such as the SL 63 AMG "Edition IWC" will serve to underline AMG's expertise in the development and design of extraordinary sports cars.
Training for AMG Performance Centers in two waves
Training for the 175 Mercedes-Benz Sales Partners to become AMG Performance Centers will be undertaken in two waves: While these comprehensive measures are already well underway in the key AMG markets of Germany, the US, Japan and China, AMG is currently preparing the roll-out in further regions.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Fredro 7:07PM (11/26/2008)
Daimler is either really bored or has too much cash.
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Lad 7:26PM (11/26/2008)
MB will never be worth its salt as a performance company until they start building duel clutch or manual clutch cars; BMW has run away from MB for years because of MB's poor decision some years ago to build mostly automatics.
The only cars I would call a performance car in the whole U.S. fleet is the '85 to '87 16 valve 190E.
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CarbonBlack 7:32PM (11/26/2008)
I agree! Give us either straight up manual transmissions, or a nice dual clutch/DSG type transmission.
This dealership concept is a great Idea! The only problem would be all the car enthusiasts camping in the showrooms. ;-)
getatschmidt 7:40PM (11/26/2008)
def build a car with a clutch!
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LeMuRfArT 7:41PM (11/26/2008)
i plan on getting a c63 at some point soon here.
it was between that and a cayman but i need a backseat i think
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Seanross 8:27PM (11/26/2008)
Recession certainly not effectin MB eh?
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2004m3driver 8:31PM (11/26/2008)
Goddamn pictures so bright white looks like your died and went to AMG heaven.
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trevor 8:33PM (11/26/2008)
The construction management company i work for has already started building one of these in vancouver canada. This is old news, and from the looks of the drawings it should be nice looking, or better looking than the above pictures. Suppose to fit 8 cars and one turntable which shows a slr in the renderings.
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Mobius_1 10:12PM (11/26/2008)
How many in the Sultan of Brunei's Palace? And Abu Dhabi and Dubai and Bahrain etc?
POOWWWEEERRR!!!
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Hugh G 10:21PM (11/26/2008)
I bet 125 of them will close within a couple years.
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Tool 10:30PM (11/26/2008)
Great idea. Wish I thought of it.
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Dawson 12:02AM (11/27/2008)
Yes, Yes, Yes I will be there the day the doors open. We've been asking AMG to do this for 2 years and they listened to us AMG owners!!!! Yea!!! This is a great start and everybody said the same thing when Steve Jobs opened Apple stores all over the world and now look where they are? Yea!!
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Mazda FTW! 10:47AM (11/27/2008)
Is those two in Pic 4 are representative of the AMG experience then move over BMW!!!
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catchmyshadow 11:11AM (11/27/2008)
AMG are selling and modifying more cars than ever, so no surprise. if u want a powerful but still comfy car AMG is THE way to go. they know they job better than Daimler itself, great cars, great company.
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