Special Moment for Mercedes-Benz Vans: First Mercedes-Benz Vito from Argentina Receives Papal Blessing
 Pope Francis signed the first Mercedes-Benz Vito produced in Argentina. The Vito Tourer is donated to Scholas Occurrentes. |
- Pope Francis dedicates a ceremony held at the Vatican to the first Vito produced in his home country
- Vehicle is donated to aid organisation Scholas Occurrentes
- Production of the Vito also in the Mercedes-Benz plant in Buenos Aires since June
VATICAN CITY -- Oct. 14, 2015: Pope Francis has blessed the
first Mercedes-Benz Vito to be produced in his home country of
Argentina. At the ceremony held on 13 October in the Vatican, the head
of the Roman Catholic Church also affixed his signature to the white Vito
Tourer. Mercedes-Benz Argentina, the national subsidiary of
Daimler Group, is donating this very special Vito - a seven-seater
model featuring front-wheel drive and petrol engine - to Scholas
Occurrentes, an aid organisation supported by Pope Francis. The van will be
auctioned at a later date. The proceeds will benefit sports, art and
technology projects of the organisation. These aim at enhancing the
integration of socially disadvantaged children and teenagers into
society.
Mercedes-Benz Argentina and Scholas
Occurrentes – joint commitment to children and teenagers in
need
With the donation
Mercedes-Benz expands its cooperation with Scholas Occurrentes which has
been in place for about a year. Since 2014 the aid organisation and
Mercedes-Benz in Argentina have collectively supported a football school
for socially disadvantaged young people aged between 6 and 18 years.
The football school was established by employees of the company and the
SMATA union.
Besides Argentina Scholas
Occurrentes is active in around 70 further countries around the
globe.
The Argentine Vito -
part of “Mercedes-Benz Vans goes global”
The production of the Vito at the
Mercedes-Benz plant in Argentina “Centro Industrial Juan Manuel
Fangio” began at the end of June 2015. The production and market
launch of the mid-size van in the South American country forms part of the
growth strategy “Mercedes-Benz Vans goes global”. The
business strategy aims at further extending the technology leadership of
Mercedes-Benz Vans, expanding existing regional activities and tapping
new growth potential outside the core European markets.
Between 2013 and 2015 Mercedes-Benz has invested a total of
220 million US dollars (around 195 million euros) in the
plant which is located in Buenos Aires. Roughly 1600 people work there for
the brand with the star. Furthermore, the plant has also produced the
Mercedes-Benz Sprinter since 1996.