Mercedes Brands has come out in 12th place in a list of the top 100 global brands, making it the top premium car maker, and also the most valuable European brand in the world.
Mercedes, and its boss Dieter Zetsche, might be worried that it isn't making enough sales headway against its premium rivals, but Zintmeyer and Lux, which compiles the list of the top 100 global brands every year for Interbrand, still reckons Mercedes to be a pretty hot property.
The study, which ranks global brands by 'brand equity', puts Mercedes at $27.455bn, an increase of 9 per cent over 2010. This puts Mercedes in 12 place, with only Toyota considered a more valuable brand in 11th place. Merc's arch rivals BMW are in 15th position, with Audi down in 59th place.
No car maker managed to trouble the top 10 spots, however, with Coca Cola, IBM and Microsoft locking out the top three places.