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Since the beginning of the automotive industry, manufacturers have used “Coachbuilders” and Design Houses to enhance and develop their vehicles. Mercedes-Benz specialist, HOFELE-Design GmbH, gives an insight to the growing demand for more exclusive automobiles from demanding customers who want the best, but also want something a bit different from the standard.
The Hofele brothers, Michael and Martin, have been in the high-end automotive design business for over three decades , with a family history in automotive engineering going back three generations with a connection to Mr. Carl Benz, who is considered the inventor of the automobile.
Michael and Martin have seen many trends come and go, in the past, it was all about wide bodies and rear spoilers, then came outrageous color schemes and huge chrome wheels, stretched limousines and James Bond type gadgets, the Hofele brothers have seen it all.
They have also been responsible for some of them by designing and manufacturing components and parts for many of the well-known European ‘tuning’ companies.
But since HOFELE-Design was appointed by Daimler AG as an official partner, they have for their own Hofele programmes kept to a strict design language of “Elegant and Sophisticated”.
Michael Hofele explains the motivation for their design language, saying the market today is very different .
“Today, we are catering to an elite group of clients who recognize the Mercedes-Benz and Maybach brands as providing the luxury, comfort, state-of-the-art technology and automotive engineering they expect as standard.
“But many of these brand loyal customers now want to enhance the brand by adding more “EXCLUSIVITY” and this is where HOFELE steps in…. a Mercedes-Benz plus something a bit more – individual and different,” he says.
HOFELE-Design GmbH is an official contractual partner of Daimler AG for the enhancement of Mercedes-Benz passenger cars and they are now developing a range of coachwork and engineering products for the 2020 Mercedes-Benz model range.
When the partnership kicked off last year, the Hofele brothers kept many details of their developments at the HOFELE factory to themselves, with the assurance that some very interesting and unique products would be unveiled soon.
HOFELE Design has been doing a lot work with the Mercedes-Benz S-Class, especially, with what HOFELE calls the “Ultimate S”. And also, the most exciting Mercedes-Benz model of 2019 the new G-Wagon.
HOFELE works with a number of exclusive sales and distribution partners in their main market of Europe.
“The demand for Bespoke Luxury vehicles continues to be very strong in Russia and the Middle East. But it is now China, Asia and the African continent where an increasing amount of interest in our brand comes from,” Michael Hofele disclosed.
