Mercedes-Benz and Roarington: A Journey from the Past to the Future

The program to experience the Mercedes-Benz world in Roarington was announced this Thursday. Welcoming guests, Marcus Breitschwerdt, CEO of Mercedes-Benz Heritage GmbH, and Fritz Kaiser, Founder of The Classic Car Trust and Chairman of Roarington, opened the TCCT Forum at the Mercedes Museum in Stuttgart, where the program was unveiled. This collaboration allows us today to present four dedicated stories about the great adventure of Mercedes, which began with the birth of the automobile.

Markus Gross, ETH Professor of Computer Science and Chief Scientist at The Walt Disney Company, presented cutting-edge technological developments in the areas of AI, digital worlds and avatars.

It’s no surprise that a company like Mercedes, always focused on innovation for over 100 years, would cross paths with those who live in the future. This is why the announcement by Mercedes-Benz Heritage GmbH on Thursday, October 17th, at the conclusion of the TCCT Forum 2024, of a memorandum of understanding with Roarington AG to bring the world's oldest luxury car manufacturer into the digital universe of the “Roarington metaverse” comes as no surprise. The choice of the Mercedes-Benz Museum in Stuttgart, which has welcomed 13 million visitors since its opening in 2006, is significant. The aim is to offer the global classic car community a virtual meeting place, Roarington, which will house the Mercedes Museum. It will be a space where digital experiences will allow users to explore iconic cars in full detail, even opening their doors to see interiors identical to the real thing, with the opportunity to drive them on roads or tracks, no matter their era.

Fritz Kaiser introduces the digital world of the "Roarington metaverse" at the TCCT Forum 2024 held at the Mercedes-Benz Museum in Stuttgart.

The track experience is made unique by the involvement of Kimi Räikkönen, the 2007 Formula One World Champion, who is now part of Roarington to provide insights and suggestions for this extraordinary project. Räikkönen's lap times on the most famous tracks, past and present, set the benchmark. Nicknamed “Iceman” for his courage and composure, Räikkönen will establish reference lap times using simulators developed by Pininfarina and Zagato.

Kimi Räikkönen, new Ambassador of Roarington, driving the simulator on the Spa-Francorchamps track in a Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing.

“Roarington combines automotive heritage with state-of-the-art technology, creating new possibilities for collectors and ensuring that these iconic vehicles remain relevant and fascinating for future generations”, said Fritz Kaiser, Founder of The Classic Car Trust and Chairman of Roarington. “Roarington is the place where the legendary treasures of automotive history meet the streets and racetracks of the future. It’s a place where the global classic car community can experience their passion in a new dimension”. These statements echo those made during the opening remarks by Marcus Breitschwerdt, CEO of Mercedes-Benz Heritage GmbH: “With over 13 million visitors since its opening in 2006, our museum is one of the most famous and popular automotive museums in the world. We aim to develop this concept further and, looking to the future, extend it into the digital realm. Our partnership with Roarington offers a new dimension in presenting Mercedes-Benz Classic”. In this special edition of our newsletter, we present the great news and four pillars that have made Mercedes legendary.

Marcus Breitschwerdt and Fritz Kaiser after signing a memorandum of understanding to bring the world’s oldest luxury car manufacturer into the Roarington digital universe.