Mercedes-Benz Has Just Sold The World's Most Expensive Car

Mercedes-Benz has revealed it has sold the most valuable car in the world.

On Thursday, 19 May, the luxury vehicles company reported it had sold one of two extremely rare original 300 SLR Uhlenhaut Coupes from the Mercedes-Benz Classic Collection.

The car was sold at auction on Thursday, 5 May, to a private collector for a whopping figure.

The Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR Uhlenhaut Coupe from 1955 was sold for 135 million Euros, making it the most expensive car of all time.

CEO of Mercedes-Benz Group AG, Ola Källenius, stated: "The 300 SLR Uhlenhaut Coupes are milestones in sports car development and key historical elements that have shaped our brand.

"The decision to sell one of these two unique sports cars was taken with very sound reasoning – to benefit a good cause. The proceeds from the auction will fund a global scholarship program. With the 'Mercedes-Benz Fund' we would like to encourage a new generation to follow in Rudolf Uhlenhaut's innovative footsteps and develop amazing new technologies, particularly those that support the critical goal of decarbonization and resource preservation.

"At the same time, achieving the highest price ever paid for a vehicle is extraordinary and humbling: a Mercedes-Benz is by far the most valuable car in the world."

Jungo Brüngger, member of the Board of Management of Mercedes-Benz Group AG for Integrity and Legal Affairs, who is also in charge of the Mercedes-Benz Fund, explained how the 'global company' and 'luxury brand' has a 'great level of responsibility towards society'.

"The proceeds from the sale of the 300 SLR Uhlenhaut Coupe provide us with a unique opportunity to strengthen our commitment with a long-term flagship project: We will establish the global scholarship program 'Mercedes-Benz Fund' supporting young people in their studies, commitment and actions towards a more sustainable future.

"We are convinced that access to education in these areas will be crucial in encountering the great challenges of our time and contribute to greater stability, prosperity and social cohesion," he said.

The Mercedes-Benz Fund is set to be divided into University Scholarships and School Scholarships – university scholarships 'in order to connect, educate and encourage students to realise/conduct research on environmental science projects', and school scholarships 'focusing on pupils to realise local environmental projects in their communities'.

"The program funds will be directed to individuals who otherwise do not have the financial means for their projects and career paths. The program will go beyond financially supporting the young people and include extracurricular elements like Mercedes-Benz mentorships opening up new career prospects.

"The Mercedes-Benz Fund will be jointly developed with and managed by an experienced partner which is currently being evaluated. The detailed set-up and roll-out planning as well as the partner organisation will be announced later this year," the announcement reads.

Marcus Breitschwerdt, head of Mercedes-Benz Heritage, explained how 'proud' the company is to 'contribute with [its] historical collection to this initiative connecting the past with the future of engineering and decarbonization technology'.

He added: "The private buyer has agreed that the 300 SLR Uhlenhaut Coupe will remain accessible for public display on special occasions, while the second original 300 SLR Coupe remains in company ownership and will continue to be displayed at the Mercedes-Benz Museum in Stuttgart."