4 June 2010

• Partnership between, German Embassy in South Africa, the Deutschen Fussball Bund (DFB) and Mercedes-Benz South Africa (MBSA)
• Mobile ‘fan embassy’ as central contact and information point for German fans at the game venues of the German soccer team in South Africa
• Four Mercedes-Benz Vito vans and two E-Class sedans will support transport and shuttle services

Stuttgart/Berlin/Pretoria - Mercedes-Benz South Africa (Pty) Ltd (MBSA), the Deutschen Fussball Bund DFB and the German embassy in South Africa will be working together during the FIFA 2010 Soccer World Cup taking place between 11 June and 11 July 2010 in South Africa.

The German embassy in South Africa together with their department of foreign affairs, will be offering all travelling German soccer fans special services at a central contact and information point at all game venues, in the form of a ‘mobile fan-embassy’ vehicle.

The Mercedes-Benz Vito is the vehicle of choice, and will be strategically parked close to the stadiums by the German embassy. Fans will be able to receive travel and tourism information, advice on transport, traffic, health, safety and much more.

In addition the support staff will be able to provide German fans with emergency support, such as the loss of passports and the like.

Dieter W. Haller, Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany in South Africa says, "For South Africa, to host the biggest sports and media spectacle in the world, is a milestone. The country will be a good host, and will welcome the best teams in the world, who together with thousands of fans will be celebrating at numerous soccer venues. We at the German Embassy, will support these festivities, especially those for our German fans, and we will be there to assist them as the need arises. We thank Mercedes-Benz and the DFB for their active participation, as being close to the soccer venues is convenient and allows us to be more flexible."

Hansgeorg Niefer, President and CEO of Mercedes-Benz of South Africa (MBSA) says, "As a subsidiary of a global German company, who themselves are the general sponsor of their national team and the DFB, we are also looking forward to this spectacular event. We are confident that our vehicles will be of great help to the transportation arrangements during this event. The courtesy vehicle arrangements with the German embassy further extends our long-standing mutually supportive relationship."

Ambassador Haller, will receive the keys to the six vehicles from Dr Niefer on 03 June 2010. The total courtesy support by MBSA to the German Embassy for mobility during the Soccer World cup includes transportation and shuttle services using one Mercedes-Benz Viano, one Vito Crew Cab and two Vito Crew-buses, as well as two Mercedes-Benz E-Class sedans.