Mercedes-Benz Middle East Web site gets new features

In addition to local and international news and events on the world's leading luxury passenger cars, information on the range of Mercedes-Benz vehicles and accessories available in the region, a car configurator, GCC pricing and links to general distributors with their specific content, the new site is easier to navigate includes more bilingual content and has new features such as games and videos.

The improved Web site, www.mideast.mercedes-benz.com, was developed by DaimlerChrysler Middle East using the digimaker content management system run by a company in Norway which has also assisted companies such as Fuji films and the Financial Times with their web pages.

"Although it may seem strange for a company based in the Middle East to employ a company in Norway, with today's efficient and fast communications it has been a quick and easy way for us to upgrade our Web site," said Johannes Fritz, Director, Sales and Marketing, Mercedes Car Group, Dubai. "The new system also allows us to internally update our pages more than halving the time it takes to upload new content."

The previous Mercedes-Benz Middle East Web site received over 45,000 visits a month and won a Golden Web Award from the International Association of Webmasters and Designers for its innovative micro sites such as the Ragebh Alami video for the CLS four-door coupe and the Formula One feature that offered visitors the opportunity to 'drive' all the 2004 race circuits.

"Since our soft launch at the beginning of the year we have already seen an increase in traffic which shows that we are giving surfers what they want," said Arndt Schmidtmayer, responsible for eBusiness and CRM at DaimlerChrysler Middle East.

Currently all the major Mercedes- general agents across the Middle East have signed up for the new site and are currently in the midst of going live.