Flagship Mercedes-Benz NY dealership in hot water over racism lawsuit

Chris Tutor — Tue, 21 Aug 2012 14:01:00 EST

Filed under: Government/Legal, Mercedes-Benz

In a lawsuit filed in New York federal court, Mercedes-Benz Manhattan is charged with firing two employees after they complained about racist comments at the dealership.

Burnell Guyton and Andre Grammer, both African American, claim they found racist graffiti several times on bathroom stalls used only by employees. The two former employees say scratched into the stall wall was a stick figure hanging from a noose with Guyton's name below it, sexual drawings and "racially derogatory statements" according to Automotive News.

After they reported the offending graffiti, the two say they were fired almost immediately.

"When I first got there, I heard rumors of what certain people might say about an African-American running fixed operations. But it was just hearsay," Guyton tells AN. "Around the second year, when the writing started to show up, then it really hit home when you can read it on the wall."

The flagship Manhattan dealership is the only location owned and operated by Mercedes-Benz USA itself. Dealership management addressed the lawsuit in a statement: "We pride ourselves in providing an inclusive and supportive environment at Mercedes-Benz Manhattan. This lawsuit was originated by an employee who was terminated for cause and another one who voluntarily resigned without cause or provocation."

Flagship Mercedes-Benz NY dealership in hot water over racism lawsuit originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 21 Aug 2012 14:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mercedes-Benz Sprinter Grand Edition is a private jet sans the wings

Noah Joseph — Thu, 23 Dec 2010 16:31:00 EST

Filed under: Minivan/Van, Mercedes-Benz, Luxury

Mercedes-Benz Sprinter Grand Edition - Click above for high-res image

Here in North America we know Mercedes-Benz as purveyors of luxury automobiles. But overseas, the Silver Star is known just as much for its commercial trucks. In between exists a huge chasm, but if one vehicle is capable of single-handedly bridging that gap, it's surely the Sprinter Grand Edition.

Now you may have seen the Sprinter delivering your packages or taking you to the airport, but this is no cargo van or mini bus. Offered exclusively by Mercedes-Benz Manhattan - the manufacturer-owned dealership on Park Avenue - the Sprinter Grand Edition is everything an upscale buyer would expect from a Mercedes and then some.

It's referred to as a "stand-up Maybach" for a reason, and that reason is what it packs inside: DVD players hooked up to pair of 32-inch flat-panel televisions, reclining power massage arm chairs, sofa bed, refrigerator, 30,000-BTU HVAC system, satellite radio, wireless internet... it's essentially a private jet inside, only installed into a van.

The privilege of ownership will cost you though: instead of the $40,000 your average working-grade Sprinter sells for, the fully-equipped Grand Edition goes for a hair under $190,000. That makes it marginally more expensive than the SLS AMG supercar and chump change cheaper than the S65 AMG performance sedan... but still around half the price of a Maybach. Want to know more? Follow the jump for a full list of features.

[Source: Mercedes-Benz via The New York Times]

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Mercedes-Benz Sprinter Grand Edition is a private jet sans the wings originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 23 Dec 2010 16:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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