- Mercedes has unveiled the new S-Class, the "flagship" of the Stuttgart brand.  This model takes over the generation launched in 2005, which itself replaced the generation launched in 1998.

- The first S-Class was launched in 1965. Since then, the Mercedes high-range S-class has managed to supplant its two main competitors, the BMW 7 Series (the first model dates from 1968) and Audi A8 (the first model in 1988).  It is however to note that the difference in sales between the three luxury cars has greatly reduced over the past three years (with a S-class arriving at the end of a cycle).

- The image of the three Premium carmakers - Mercedes, BMW and Audi - lies greatly on these three models, symbolizing the upscale European level. The new Mercedes S-Class positions itself now as the highest range model of Daimler, since the Maybachwas stopped earlier this year.  The carmaker expects sales of 100,000 vehicles per year, a figure already achieved in the past (between 1982 and 1986, between 2000 and 2003 and between 2006 and 2008).

- Other carmakers have tried with little success to make a foray into this luxury sedan segment , in particular Lexus (with the LS), Jaguar (with the XJ) and Maserati (with the Quattroporte), but also Cadillac or Lincoln who lost his footing on the market. Above this range, however, remain Rolls-Royce and Bentley, but with very modest sales volumes (less than 10,000 vehicles per year).

- The automobile industry is a key sector of the Argentine economy since it represents 36.5% of manufactured exports and 7.5% of employment (more than 140,000 jobs throughout the value chain sector).

- In addition, automobile production is one of the 11 priority sectors that are part of the "2020 Argentine Industrial Strategic Plan”. Its aim is to strengthen the domestic industry , to achieve a production of 1.9 million units in 2020 and locally produce 60% of the components of vehicles made in Argentina.

- Argentina's production (PC + LCV) has more than quadrupled since 2002, the same date we saw a peak in the recession of this country recorded from 160 000 units in 2005 to 760,000 in 2012.

- From 2003 until 2008, car production has benefited from the economic growth of the country but also from the growth of its neighboring countries (mainly Brazil) since exports have been growing about 22% each year during this period.

- From 2010, the Argentine production started up again: 720 000 units in 2010 and 820,000 in 2011. In 2012, however, production fell to 760,000 units, while registrations continued to grow. This means that the country is importing more vehicles from abroad (mainly Brazil).

- With a of volume of more than 700,000 units per year, Argentina is still above its 1998 peak record (460,000 units).

- Per carmaker, the PSA group is the leader in terms of production, with a share of 18% in 2012, ahead of GM (17%) Renault-Nissan (14%), VW (14%), Ford (12%) and Toyota (12%).