Mercedes-Benz Pledges $1.5 Million to Arts and Music Education Through DRIVE YOUR FUTURE Performance Awards

Special Edition GL-Class Sales to Benefit Entertainment Industry Foundation's National Arts and Music Education Initiative & New Performing Arts Scholarships

MONTVALE, N.J., Jan. 4 -- Mercedes-Benz USA (MBUSA) announced today that it has pledged $1.5 million to arts and music education through the Mercedes-Benz DRIVE YOUR FUTURE Performance Awards; a new initiative which aims to inspire young people to reach for the stars and achieve their dreams by providing access to music and arts education programs as well as financial support in the form of scholarships.

As part of this commitment, Mercedes-Benz USA has formed a new collaboration with the Entertainment Industry Foundation, the official charity of Hollywood. Together, by combining the power of the entertainment industry with corporate support, they hope to bring attention to the declining resources available for arts and music programs and reverse this trend.

Arts and Music Programs

A total of $1 million in sales proceeds of 750 Special Edition GL-Class vehicles, scheduled to debut at the Detroit Auto Show in January 2006, will be donated to the Entertainment Industry Foundation's National Arts and Music Education Initiative (NAMEI), which funds exemplary programs for kids nationwide.

"By nurturing creativity, fostering a commitment to excellence and a commitment to driving the future, some of the best ideas are born," said Paul Halata, president and CEO of Mercedes-Benz USA. "Through the DRIVE YOUR FUTURE Performance Awards, we can offer even more students a chance to achieve their dreams by providing access to higher education - including music and the arts. We are honored to work with the Entertainment Industry Foundation toward an important common goal: fostering a dynamic spirit and creative vision among young people."

"Research shows that arts education engages students in learning, gives them a sense of identity and self-direction, and equips them with the skills and attitudes that are the keys to success," said Entertainment Industry Foundation President and CEO Lisa Paulsen. "Thanks to the generosity of Mercedes-Benz, we are able to fund outstanding arts and music education organizations across the country as an investment in our children's futures."

Scholarships

An additional $500,000 will establish performing arts scholarships for graduating high school seniors who are the first generation in their families to attend college. MBUSA will grant $10,000 scholarships ($2,500 per year for four years) to 50 high school seniors across the country who plan to pursue a degree in performing arts (music, theater/drama, dance and film) and who are also the first generation in their families to attend college. These new scholarships are an extension of DRIVE YOUR FUTURE: The Mercedes-Benz USA Scholarship Program, which already commits $1 million in scholarships annually to first generation college-bound students who demonstrate financial need and exceptional achievement in the areas of academic performance, leadership and school and community activities.

Students interested in the 2006 DRIVE YOUR FUTURE Performance Awards or the 2006 DRIVE YOUR FUTURE: The Mercedes-Benz USA Scholarship Program may visit http://www.mbusa.com/drivefuture to learn more. Application materials will be available online beginning Jan. 4, 2006 and will be accepted through the Feb. 10, 2006 deadline. Scholarship recipients will be announced in May 2006.

Mercedes-Benz DRIVE YOUR FUTURE

The Mercedes-Benz DRIVE YOUR FUTURE Performance Awards and DRIVE YOUR FUTURE: The Mercedes-Benz USA Scholarship Program are educational initiatives developed for MBUSA's philanthropic program which aims to educate and empower future generations by helping young people reach their full potential and become the leaders of their generation. Now in its third year, the DRIVE YOUR FUTURE scholarship program was created to respond to a critical need for scholarships to help students who are the first generation in their families to attend college and offset the costs of postsecondary education.

Mercedes-Benz USA

In 2004, MBUSA achieved its eleventh consecutive year of sales growth by setting the highest sales volume in its history with 221,610 new vehicle sales and expects to continue the momentum with another record year of sales in 2005. Headquartered in Montvale, N.J., MBUSA is responsible for the sales, marketing and service of all Mercedes-Benz products in the United States. More information on MBUSA and its products can be found on the Internet at http://www.mbusa.com/.

Entertainment Industry Foundation

As the philanthropic leader of the entertainment industry, the Entertainment Industry Foundation has distributed hundreds of millions of dollars - and provided countless volunteer hours - to support charitable initiatives addressing some of the most critical issues facing society today. The Entertainment Industry Foundation's National Arts and Music Education Initiative (NAMEI) was launched with the support of the entire entertainment industry to help reverse the declining public resources available and further the arts for children and young people. For more information, please visit http://www.eifoundation.org/.