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You’ve seen the iconic Mercedes-Benz three-pointed star all over the place–on cars, on dealer signage and even on merchandise. That small and simple image has become synonymous with quality and luxury. But do you know how the automaker came to choose that figure as its marketing symbol?

The story dates all the way back to the early 1880s when Benz and Daimler first got together.

Throughout the waning years of the 19th century, the two worked on perfecting their vehicles and marketing them for the public. They also worked on creating a name for the company that people eventually recognized as Mercedes. But they were still lacking a catchy trademark symbol.

Daimler’s two sons, Paul and Adolf , were senior executives of the company by the time their father passed away. They remembered he once used a star as the symbol for his company. On a postcard of his own house, he drew a star above the home and told his wife that the star would one day hang over his factory as a sign of prosperity.

In June of 1909, the DMG board accepted the proposal to use this star as the symbol for the company. At the time, the company trademarked a three-pointed and a four-pointed star. After 1910, the automaker only used the three-pointed star mounted on top of the radiator at the front of the vehicle.

Come back tomorrow for more about the history of the iconic star that you see at every Mercedes-Benz dealer in the world.

Everybody looks to the engine in a vehicle when speaking about fuel efficiency. But did you know transmissions can play a huge role in how much fuel your vehicle uses, too?

Ford knows this. That’s why the automaker has created a transmission that contributes to better fuel efficiency. The Ford Motor Company will use the new automatic six-speed transmissions in its 2009 Escape and Mercury Mariner models. But if they prove to be successful and popular, you can look for these transmissions in many more models in the near future.

According to Craig Renneker, the chief engineer for Ford Powertrain Operations, “Ford is on the cutting edge of advanced transmission technology. The engineers at Ford strive to make the transmission an ‘invisible’ part of the car. That means they try to make it as quiet and smooth as it can be so the driver doesn’t even notice when their vehicle switches gears.”

But the new transmissions focus on fuel economy, too. They have a dual-clutch capability called Powershift and the fuel economy of a diesel engine. That means improvements of up to 10 percent! And with gas prices bordering on $4 a gallon, who wouldn’t like that?

With advancements in the automatic transmissions department, many vehicle owners are enjoying the fuel-efficient benefits of a manual transmission. Ford just continues to take it a step further to set an example for the other major automakers. Visit your local Ford dealer this summer and see how great these new transmissions are for your budget.

I was watching the Democratic Presidential Debate a few nights ago. It was one of many before the Pennsylvania primaries. I forget what the exact question was, but I remember it had something to do with cleaning up the environment.

I heard Barack Obama say that if he were president, he would make sure the automakers would clean up their emissions during his administration to help create a cleaner environment. But that sounded weird to me. Here’s why.

Auto companies are already making great strides to produce vehicles that run cleaner. You can go to any local Ford dealer and find dozens of vehicles that are better for the environment than their previous models. There are even hybrid vehicles that you can buy!

Ford is also working on producing better cars and trucks to help the environment. In fact, the Dearborn automaker is planning to reduce emissions by 30 percent by the year 2020. The government can’t really ask for much more than that. It takes time to develop, create and market these types of vehicles and make them affordable for the average consumer, too.

But Ford isn’t only making some of the biggest advancements in cleaner vehicles. Ford was also the first to respond to pressures to make these eco-friendly vehicles. Ford set the trend and continues to be an example for other automakers to be more responsible with their products.

I think the secret to the success of these cleaner vehicles lies in the free market and competition. The more attractive these vehicles become to the general public, the more competition there will be in the auto market. Government regulations only hinder the competition and make the auto companies do only the bare minimum.

Whether you’re single or married, your Mercedes-Benz is one of your most prized possessions. And when there’s a chance of losing that possession, it can wreak havoc on your life.

That’s exactly what David Hasselhoff is experiencing right now.

In a court ruling last week regarding the divorce between David Hasselhoff and Pamela Bach, a judge ordered that she would get 50 percent of the couple’s $1 million-dollar home in California. But that’s not all.

Pamela Bach, a former actress, also gets the couple’s 1960 Mercedes and their 1999 Lincoln Navigator. She also gets many pieces of art that hung in their home and some furniture, according to CelebTV.com.

Hasselhoff also has to pay her $21,000 each month for child support for the couple’s two daughters, ages 15 and 17.

There is a bit of good news for the former star of the 1980s TV classic Knight Rider. The judge ordered that he could keep his 2006 Mercedes and the 2007 Cadillac Escalade. In addition, he can also keep all rights to his newly-released book, Making Waves.

Bach and Hasselhoff were married for nearly 16 years, but they filed for divorce in mid-2006.

A new Mercedes-Benz dealer in Charleston, South Carolina is already creating a buzz. Although it just opened recently, the Baker Motor facility has already earned two major distinctions. The first was a local award for selling its first ForTwo Smart minicar. The other award was for being the top MB dealership in the United States. And as there are nearly 350 MB dealers across the country, that’s no small feat to achieve!

Tommy Baker, the owner of the award-winning facility, is humble about the success. “The congratulations are for all these people,” he said, referring to his hard-working employees. “We won it all together. It’s something they’ll remember the rest of their lives.”

Baker also felt extremely honored to receive the awards. He said it was “the most prestigious thing to happen to me. It’s that big.”

The Mercedes-Benz Company chooses its top dealership in a “Best of the Best” competition. Contest officials decide on the best 15 percent of the facilities in the nation based on customer surveys. Baker’s facility was in the “best of” category in 2003 and 2006 as well. He was ecstatic when learning he had made the list again in 2007.

Officials announced the winner of the “Best of the Best” facility at a national business convention in San Antonio, Texas in March. Each MB facility had a representative at the convention. When Baker heard his name announced as the best, he came to the stage and received a green jacket, which was symbolic of his prize, a trip to the Masters PGA Championship in Augusta.

If you’ve been keeping up with the news in the auto industry, you’ve probably noticed that factory workers are becoming an endangered breed lately. Auto manufacturers are doing everything they can to cut costs and save money. Unfortunately, that usually comes at the expense of the lower-level workers who need the money the most.

But the Ford plant in Oakville, Canada has just added 500 new jobs for the upcoming spring. Workers at this plant manufacture the Ford Edge and the Lincoln MKX. With the popularity of these vehicles, the factory needs more workers to keep up with demand. That’s why the automaker decided to add a third shift.

The good thing about this decision is that the workers that were laid off from the Essex Engine plant will have the first crack at the 500 jobs available. Some of the more experienced workers will also enjoy up to $34 an hour in addition to a cost-of-living allowance.

Where do I sign up, eh?

Even the Canadian Auto Workers union is happy with this announcement. “This is one of a few bits of good news we’ve had in this industry in a long time,” said Buzz Hargrove, president of the CAW.

Adding 500 jobs to the Oakville plant is the second step Ford has taken to boost the number of workers in the Ontario area in the last month. Earlier, Ford brought back 300 jobs to an engine plant in Windsor. Hopefully, this trend will continue and more people can get back to their jobs sooner than later.

You can help create new jobs by purchasing a vehicle from a local Ford dealer. The sales staff is happy to assist you in all your car buying needs. Visit one today and see what I mean!

Now that we’ve talked about how the Ford Motor Company intends to promote its newest Drive One campaign, let’s look at the four main themes behind the strategy.

Quality
In a study conducted by the RDA Group, Ford’s quality improved to one of the best in the industry, if not the best overall. Ford released these findings as part of its marketing campaign to let consumers know about the results. In 2007, Ford also won more awards for quality from JD Power than any other automaker in the world.

Green
Two of the commercials designed to demonstrate Ford’s “greener” capabilities include two employees along with one of the employee’s husband and children. When shooting of the commercial was over, the family said it was an experience they would remember for the rest of their lives.

Safety
The commercial emphasizing safety features Stephen Rouhana, a senior official at the Ford Motor Company. He works in the Research and Advanced Engineering department. He stands alongside the Ford Edge to demonstrate the automaker’s dedication to keeping customers safe.

Smart
This TV spot includes Jason Johnson, an engineer who collaborated on the exclusive SYNC and navigation system. A Ford Focus shares the spotlight with him in this commercial.

These ads are very intriguing, and you’ll undoubtedly notice a true-to-life feel about them. They make you want to stop in at your nearest Ford dealer to see what everybody is talking about.

We spend a lot of time talking about the Mercedes-Benz Company, its news and its plans. But some people purchase a Mercedes and then do things with it that make the evening news. Here are a couple of those stories.

• A man in New Haven, Connecticut crashed a black Mercedes-Benz into the first floor of an apartment building early in the morning on April 14. The police report states there was a New Haven Police Department decal on one of the windows, but officers could not yet confirm whether the driver had stolen the car. When witnesses arrived on the scene, they found the stunned driver still sitting in the vehicle. He told police he borrowed the car from a friend so he could buy groceries at a nearby supermarket.

• Just when you think she’s getting back on the right path, Britney Spears does it again. While driving her Mercedes-Benz on a Los Angeles freeway earlier this month, she rear-ended a 2006 Nissan during stop-and-go traffic. As a result of the accident, the Nissan then lurched forward and bumped the car in front of it, too. This is just one more story in which Britney has caused trouble with her Benz.

Some folks have spotted Britney driving her vehicle with her infant son sitting in her lap, and police charged her with driving without a license. She received no citation in her most recent accident, though.

When you purchase a vehicle at your local Mercedes-Benz dealer, you’ll hopefully be more responsible and careful with it. These are expensive and luxurious vehicles. No one should take them for granted.

There aren’t too many weeks that go by without a story relating how Mercedes-Benz is doing something to help out the less fortunate. This week, there’s a story about how the automaker is helping out the Habitat for Humanity organization.

In Bergen County, New Jersey, 700 people who want to win a Mercedes-Benz C300 Sport Sedan or those who simply want to help a charity can chip in. If you’re interested, all you need to do is send a check for $100 to the following address and keep your fingers crossed:

Habitat for Humanity of Bergen County
10 Banta Place, Suite 105
Hackensack, NJ 07601

Include a note that you’d like to participate in the raffle for the Mercedes and you’ll receive a ticket stub. You can purchase as many tickets as you’d like, but there are only 700 available. Officials will sell them on a “first come, first served” basis.

But if you’re worried about paying the taxes on a luxury vehicle, the winner can also choose to take the cash equivalent ($30,000) instead of the Mercedes-Benz. However, if the contest sells fewer than 350 tickets, the cash prize is cut in half. Officials will announce the lucky winner on May 8 at the Habitat for Humanity of Bergen County Builder of the Year Award Dinner. The event will take place at the Marriott Glenpointe in Teaneck, New Jersey.

Don’t worry, though. You don’t need to be present to accept the prize.

Prestige Motors, a New Jersey Mercedes-Benz dealer, is supplying the vehicle for the raffle.

We’ve discussed several of the new strategies the Ford Motor Company is using to reclaim its superiority in the auto industry. The engineers are demonstrating the new technologies. The dealers are pushing the product to the consumers in the dealerships. But the everyday Ford employees are also contributing to the new marketing strategy. Here’s how.

First of all, several Ford employees will appear in commercials promoting Ford’s new products. Five 30-second commercials are in the works, and two will air during American Idol.  With the popularity of that show, you can’t find a much better marketing strategy than that! The employees in the commercials discuss their jobs and how the customers benefit from Ford cars and trucks.

Filmed inside Ford facilities, the commercials give customers a glimpse of the inner workings of the factory and how they operate. Shooting for some scenes took place on the streets of southern California. But in a twist, these are not scripted  commercials. The workers simply give interviews and answers “from the heart” to persuade customers to buy Ford vehicles.

The coordinator for the commercials, Luis Salem, wanted the workers’ real attitudes to show in these spots. “We just wanted to capture on film their passion for making great products,” he said. This was the way to give the message the utmost credibility.

Once you see one of these commercials, you’ll probably want to visit your local Ford dealer and see why the employees are so happy with the products they make. There’s a reason they take pride in the vehicles. And once you purchase one, you’ll take pride in it, too.