Beijing/London, June 19, 2011 – With the Wimbledon Championships celebrating their 125th time at the All England Lawn Tennis Club and Mercedes-Benz celebrating its 125th anniversary this year, today, in London, Mercedes-Benz announced its partnership with Grand Slam winner, Li Na, as she becomes the first Chinese person to be a global brand ambassador for the Mercedes-Benz brand. The 3-year partnership also sees the appointment of Li Na as official ambassador for Mercedes-Benz's 'Swing for the Stars' Junior Tennis Program in China, which nurtures promising young tennis players.

"Mercedes-Benz has a rich heritage supporting tennis and sports around the world, so our exciting partnership with Li Na is yet another step in furthering this cause; her dedication, passion and drive to succeed in her career, perfectly align with Mercedes-Benz's 'The best or nothing' brand philosophy,"said Björn Hauber, Executive Vice-President, Sales & Marketing, for Mercedes-Benz (China) Ltd. "We believe Li Na is a great role model and ideally suited to be our global brand ambassador."

As the first ever Asian to win a Grand Slam singles title, and seeded third for Wimbledon 2011, Li Na, clad in tennis kit bearing the Mercedes-Benz logo, said, "I am happy for this cooperation with Mercedes-Benz and am really looking forward to my ambassadorial role. I hope that through our concerted efforts we will be able to spread the joy of tennis, as well as Mercedes-Benz's brand values of 'fascination, responsibility and perfection', and in so doing, encourage more people to take up the sport."

Based on the agreement, Li Na will also be an ambassador for the 'Swing for the Stars' Junior Tennis Program, an initiative co-founded by Mercedes-Benz and the Chinese Tennis Association in 2008. The first such program of its kind in China, it is designed to nurture junior professional tennis players. "We are very grateful for the extraordinary support we have received from Mercedes-Benz over the years in helping promote and develop tennis within China," said Madam Sun Jinfang, Vice-President of the Chinese Tennis Association, adding, "in the past this has seen tennis greats, such as Li Na and Roger Federer, act as coaches for our 'Swing for the Stars' training clinics."

Signing Li Na as Mercedes-Benz's global brand ambassador is the automaker's latest move to cooperate with leading world-class athletes. "Mercedes-Benz's support of tennis and the sports in China has been a long-term, comprehensive and strategic initiative," said Ms. Mao Jingbo, Vice-President, Head of Marketing for Mercedes-Benz (China) Ltd. "In our extensive history of sports marketing, we have long been associated with tennis – from sponsoring competitions and partnering with world-leading tennis players to training young talents. Our integrated sports platform supporting tennis, motorsports and golf in China, forms an integral part of the Mercedes-Benz brand culture and enables all-round customer participation."

Mercedes-Benz plays an active role in promoting world-class tennis in China and was a driving force in bringing the ATP tour to the country, which they have sponsored since 1996. With a strong passion for the sport, the company also supports the China Open, featuring top international players, and the 'Mercedes-Benz Cup' Tennis Grand Prix, featuring top Chinese players. Mercedes-Benz has long cooperated with tennis superstars, one of the best examples being Roger Federer, Mercedes-Benz's global brand ambassador, who is best known for his unparalleled technique, pursuit of perfection and active involvement in various CSR causes. In 2008, Mercedes-Benz became the Premier Sponsor of the Chinese National Tennis Team, as well as strategic partners with the Chinese Tennis Association. Supporting the development of grassroots level tennis in China is equally important to Mercedes-Benz, with the company running various programs to spot and train the stars of tomorrow. Such programs include Mercedes-Benz's 'Swing for the Stars' and 'University Tennis Promotion', which help young, talented players, develop their skills through professional coaching sessions. These programs strongly reflect the company's determination to contribute to the sustainable development of tennis in China.

After her incredible win at the French Open in Roland Garros, representatives from Mercedes-Benz wished Li Na the best of luck in her upcoming bid for the Wimbledon title. Mercedes-Benz looks forward to its global cooperation with Li Na, especially within China in its bid to further grassroots level tennis in the country. The two make perfect doubles partners.