Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1484063
maltatoday | SUNDAY • 13 NOVEMBER 2022 17 COMMERCIAL Mercedes-Benz increases brand value by 10% and remains the world's most valuable luxury automotive brand MERCEDES Benz has raised the value of its iconic name- sake brand by 10% in the past year, Interbrand's "Best Glob- al Brands 2022" survey shows. This underscores the company's successful transition towards an electric and software-driven future. Mercedes Benz initiated the realignment of the brand in 2021 with the spin-off of Daimler Truck and the strategy update. The goal is to focus even more on the luxury segment and con- sistently utilise growth and prof- itability opportunities. Mercedes Benz aims to build the world's most desirable cars and to take the leading position in electric drive and vehicle software. In order to achieve a structurally higher brand positioning, the model portfolio will be realigned, as the company announced in May 2022. The strategic deci- sion to become fully electric in every segment by 2030 – wher- ever market conditions allow – and the ambition to become CO2-neutral by 2039 further strengthens the connection be- tween luxury and sustainability. "Mercedes Benz' sustained ranking in eighth place as well as the double-digit increase in brand value to more than 56 billion US dollars provide affir- mation of our strategic course. That is to define the sustainable luxury of the future, to put our customers even more at the cen- tre of everything we do and to make every point of contact with our brand a unique experience. It makes me proud that the work of our entire team for our brand is paying off and is reflected in this great result", says Bettina Fetzer, Vice President Communications and Marketing at Mercedes Benz AG. The customer in focus: unique brand experiences to address new target groups In addition to the product port- folio, the entire business model will be oriented even more con- sistently towards luxury. Com- munication and sales are increas- ingly focused on the needs and desires of customers. Mercedes Benz attaches great importance to reaching its customers and potential target groups directly in their own surroundings and to inserting itself there credibly and authentically with unique and individual brand experiences. To this end, the company is opening itself up to collaborations with personalities and brands from a variety of in- dustries – from technology to fashion, music, film and sports. Such co-creations enable com- pletely new perspectives. They make it possible to come into contact with target groups that otherwise have little or no affin- ity with the automotive indus- try. Sales channels are consist- ently aligned with real customer needs and supplemented with innovative formats and oppor- tunities for brand presence both on and offline. Examples include Mercedes AMG and Mercedes Benz G Class Private Lounges as well as the Mercedes AMG Store in Dubai. The Mercedes May- bach Atelier recently opened in Shanghai is also part of the over- all strategy. "Best Global Brands": Focus on the best brands worldwide since 1999 The US brand consultancy In- terbrand has been researching and analysing the world's most valuable brands since 1999. The top 100 are included in the annual "Best Global Brands" study, which examines all can- didates according to three cri- teria: "Financial performance of the brand's products or ser- vices", "Role of the brand in the purchase decision process" and "Strength of the brand with re- gard to securing future corporate earnings". Interbrand was the first company to develop a brand valuation method certified ac- cording to ISO 10668. This international standard sets benchmarks for valuation and meets the requirements for precise monetary brand classi- fication. Interbrand's ranking can be found at www.bestglobal- brands.com. MeDirect Bank continues to enhance its WealthTech App and relaunches commission-free campaign FOLLOWING the successful launch of the "Buy Commis- sion-Free" campaign earlier this year, MeDirect Bank Malta is relaunching this offer through which all brokerage fees are waived when purchasing securi- ties available through the bank's WealthTech mobile app, online platform, as well as through its investment centres, in person. The campaign is valid until 9 December 2022. In addition, MeDirect contin- ued enhancing their capabilities and have launched a new func- tionality on its WealthTech trad- ing platform - longer durations. This will allow clients to submit orders; to buy or sell equities and ETFs on international stock ex- changes with an expiry of up to six months in the future. Such or- ders will elapse after six months if the set limit price was not met in the market, unless cancelled manually. Therefore now, clients have the possibility of placing or- ders for such securities with the following three parameters: day order, good until cancelled as well as good until date. Customers can choose their preferred investment from a huge selection of over 4,400 secu- rities, including equities listed on 17 international stock exchanges, several ETFs and Mutual Funds managed by international leading fund houses, and also a selection of local and international bonds. The MeDirect WealthTech app enables clients to have an all-in- one banking solution which gives clients full control of their fi- nances from one single platform, allowing them to monitor and manage their day-to-day financ- es, savings and investments. Ian Dingli, Head of Digital Channels and UX/UI, at Me- Direct said: "We continuously strive to provide our clients with the best tools on the market to satisfy their investment needs. This is one of the many improve- ments that we will be delivering over the coming months. We will continue enhancing our offering in line with our brand promise of making investments simple and accessible to all." The Buy Commission-Free offer includes mutual fund buy orders, submitted by 9 December 2022 as well as equity, ETF and bond buy orders, also executed until 9 December 2022. Buy orders exe- cuted after the end of the promo- tion, will incur the fees stipulated in the tariffs and charges docu- ment, which is available on the MeDirect Malta website. Stock exchange transaction fees, taxes on stock exchange transactions and other third-party costs will continue to apply, alongside the current fees for sell transactions. Terms and conditions apply and can be found on https://promo. medirect.com.mt/buy-commis- sion-free/ MeDirect Malta is the island's First Digital Bank and offers cli- ents access to market-leading financial products and services. Earlier this year, MeDirect re- vamped its brand. As part of their new brand position, they aim on providing exceptional customer and user experience, by providing all the necessary tools for their cli- ents to manage their money their own way. The rebranding project is part of a larger transformation plan, that aims to position Me- Direct as a leading international WealthTech, embodying the new identity while supporting the longer-term delivery of a Wealth SuperApp. If one is not a client of MeDi- rect, they can be guided online on how to open an account with the bank and be able to benefit from this offer by visiting https://on- boarding.medirect.com.mt/start. For further information clients may contact MeDirect Bank on 25574400.