Country Patron Mercedes-Benz South Africa 2021

As Mercedes-Benz South Africa (MBSA) we firmly believe that our purpose, to First Move the World, guided us through these unprecedented challenges caused by COVID-19. When the COVID-19 pandemic began, it tested our resolve, resilience and leadership.

It is no secret that as MBSA, our primary objective is to serve our customers and provide them with the best premium and luxury vehicles. As the inventor of the automobile, we have been doing so for over 136 years, always reinventing the automobile and mobility in its most luxurious form, decade in, decade out. However, a key aspect of our corporate culture is also to serve the community and with that, we are a socially conscious organisation. We recognise that we do not just build cars – we build communities too.

COVID-19 called for us, as leaders in the automotive industry to drive the transformation and reinvent the automobile on the journey to electrification as well as how we manufacture and sell our products.
The current times also compelled us to consider the many ways we could support and empower the communities in which we operate. In a time of exceptional strain and hardship brought by COVID-19 for our communities, it has been gratifying to see our leaders, employees and friends of the Mercedes-Benz brand take it upon themselves to serve those on the front lines and people in need.

Forging a lasting impact

MBSA’s purpose to make a sustainable impact obliges us to contribute to the communities where we live and work. Over the past two years, our collaboration with the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation has demonstrated our strengths as partners and made it clear that the work we do is relevant now more than ever and plays an integral part in developing the youth of South Africa.

Mercedes-Benz South Africa (MBSA) prides itself in strategic partnerships for increased impact in our communities. The announcement of Akani Simbine, South African 100m record holder and MBSA’s friend of the brand, as Laureus Sport for Good Foundation’s newest local ambassador has been momentous not only for the Mercedes-Benz, but for the youth and projects that will benefit from the value he will contribute to raising awareness of the power of sport for development.

Given the success of the current projects, MBSA, together with the Foundation, continues to play an active role in fuelling healthy societies and intends to expand its initiatives in East London, in the Eastern Cape region where the need for socio-economic development is quite stark.

As we look ahead, a few things are certain:

The pandemic, the economy, social welfare and climate-related devastations will continue to test all our efforts. However, recovery is certain. As MBSA, we do not accept that our future is pre-ordained – it is ours to shape. Therefore, we will continue to find ways to serve our communities and make business and society better than before, with solid alliances like the one forged with the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation.

Our shared beliefs, values and purpose have helped us enhance our resilience over our eight-year span patronship. I do not doubt that in 2022, we will emerge even stronger.