Mercedes-Benz USA Ranks #12 on FORTUNE's '100 Best Companies to Work For'

Third Consecutive Year On List - MBUSA Jumps from #15 to #12

FYI: Mercedes Buyer's Guide

MONTVALE, NJ, Jan. 19, 2012: Mercedes-Benz USA (MBUSA) announced today that for the third consecutive year, it has been ranked one of the "100 Best Companies to Work For" by FORTUNE magazine in its 15th annual survey which appears in the February 12th issue of FORTUNE, available on newsstands on Monday, January 23rd, and now at fortune.com/bestcompanies. In its third year as an entrant, MBUSA's 2012 ranking of No. 12, (up from) No. 15 last year, is the sole automaker on the list and No. 4 among small organizations with less than 2,500 associates.

"In 2011 we celebrated several milestones not the least of which was the sales momentum of all three brands -- Mercedes-Benz, Sprinter and smart -- which led us to our highest year on record and set the stage for us to take MBUSA to new places in the years ahead," stated Steve Cannon, President and CEO, MBUSA. "But what's particularly gratifying is to know that -- whatever the circumstances, whether challenge or opportunity -- the team here at MBUSA feels that this is one of the best places to work, not only in the industry but across the entire U.S."

To pick the 100 Best Companies to Work For, FORTUNE partners with the Great Place to Work Institute to conduct the most extensive employee survey in corporate America; 280 firms participated in this year's survey. More than 246,000 employees at those companies responded to a survey created by the institute, a global research and consulting firm operating in 45 countries around the world. Two-thirds of a company's score is based on the results of the institute's Trust Index survey, which is sent to a random sample of employees from each company. The survey asks questions related to their attitudes about management's credibility, job satisfaction, and camaraderie. The other third is based on responses to the institute's Culture Audit, which includes detailed questions about pay and benefit programs and a series of open-ended questions about hiring practices, methods of internal communication, training, recognition programs, and diversity efforts. After evaluations are completed, if news about a company comes to light that may significantly damage employees' faith in management, we may exclude it from the list. Any company that is at least five years old and has more than 1,000 U.S. employees is eligible. For information on how to apply, visit Great Place to Work.