Mercedes-Benz AG (“We”) is committed to protecting your personal data. As a valued customer and website visitor, your privacy is paramount. This document, acting as an extension of our commitment to transparency, outlines how we handle your information when you interact with our digital platforms. Just as you rely on Mercedes-Benz for quality automotive parts, identified by precise Mercedes Benz Part Number systems, we ensure precision and care in managing your data.
For any inquiries regarding data protection, please contact:
Mercedes-Benz AG
Mercedesstraße 120
70372 Stuttgart
Germany
Email: [email protected]
Our Data Protection Officer can be reached at:
Mercedes-Benz Group AG Chief Officer Corporate Data Protection
HPC E600
70546 Stuttgart
Germany
Email: [email protected]
Mercedes-Benz and Data Protection: A Closer Look
At Mercedes-Benz, we understand that trust is earned. This Privacy Policy is designed to give you a clear understanding of how we collect, process, and safeguard your personal data. We want you to feel confident and informed whenever you engage with our services online, whether you’re browsing for the latest models or researching specific mercedes benz part number for maintenance. This policy details our practices, the reasons behind them, the legal basis for our actions, and your rights concerning your personal information. For a more comprehensive overview, we also encourage you to review our Data Protection Policy (PDF).
It is important to note that this Privacy Statement and the Daimler AG Data Protection Policy specifically address your interactions with Mercedes-Benz websites. If you navigate to social networks or external websites through links on our pages, their data protection policies will apply, not ours. We recommend reviewing those policies separately.
How We Collect and Process Your Data
a. Website Visits and Automatic Data Collection:
When you visit our websites, we automatically collect certain technical information to ensure optimal performance and security. This includes:
- Browser and operating system details
- Date and time of your visit
- Interaction status (successful access, error messages)
- Website feature usage
- Search queries you input (including potentially searches for a mercedes benz part number)
- Frequency of visits to specific pages
- Names of accessed files
- Data transfer volume
- Referring webpage
- Subsequent webpage visited
Furthermore, for security purposes, specifically to prevent and detect website attacks or fraudulent activities, we store your IP address and Internet service provider name for seven days. This is a standard security measure, similar to ensuring the authenticity of a mercedes benz part number to prevent counterfeit parts.
b. Data You Provide Directly:
Beyond automatic collection, we only store personal data that you voluntarily provide. This occurs when you:
- Register an account
- Fill out a contact form
- Engage in a chat session
- Participate in surveys or contests
- Enter into a contract with us
In these instances, data collection is limited to what you consent to or as legally permitted (refer to section 7 for legal foundations). Providing this data is always optional, but it may be necessary to access certain website features fully. Just as providing the correct mercedes benz part number ensures you receive the right component, providing accurate information allows us to tailor our services to your needs.
c. Your Choice and Feature Functionality:
You are not legally or contractually obligated to share your personal information. However, some website functionalities may require personal data input to operate effectively. Choosing not to provide certain information might limit your access to those features or result in reduced functionality. Think of it like needing the right mercedes benz part number to order a specific part – without it, the process cannot be completed accurately.
Utilizing Your Personal Data: Our Purposes
a. Enhancing Website Experience and Security:
The data we collect during your website visit is primarily used to enhance your user experience and safeguard our IT infrastructure. This includes optimizing website navigation, ensuring fast loading times, and protecting against cyber threats. Just as a precisely engineered mercedes benz part number ensures perfect fit and function, our data processing ensures a smooth and secure online experience.
b. Customer Management and Contractual Obligations:
If you provide additional information through forms, chats, surveys, or contractual agreements, we utilize this data for:
- Designated purposes outlined at the point of collection
- Customer relationship management
- Contract execution and fulfillment
- Processing, billing, and related business transactions
This allows us to provide personalized services, respond effectively to your inquiries, and manage our business operations efficiently. Accurate data, much like a correct mercedes benz part number, is crucial for efficient and error-free processes.
c. Personalized Content and Advertising (with Consent):
With your explicit consent through our consent management system, we and selected third parties may use your personal data to display personalized content or advertising based on your browsing behavior. This ensures that the information you see is relevant and engaging. This is similar to receiving targeted recommendations for accessories based on your vehicle model, identified through its specific mercedes benz part number range.
d. Legal Compliance:
We also process personal data to the extent required by law. This includes:
- Storage for fulfilling commercial or tax-related obligations
- Disclosure in response to official or judicial orders (e.g., to law enforcement agencies)
Adhering to legal requirements is a fundamental aspect of our operations, just as using genuine mercedes benz part number components ensures adherence to quality and safety standards.
Data Sharing, Social Plugins, and Service Providers
a. Third-Party Offers:
Our websites may feature offers from third-party companies. Clicking on these offers may result in data transfer to the respective provider. This data could include information about how you found the offer on our site and any pre-filled information you’ve already provided.
b. Social Media Plugins:
We integrate social plugins from networks like Facebook and Twitter with privacy in mind:
- Deactivated by Default: Social plugins are inactive when you initially visit our websites. No data is automatically transmitted to social network operators.
- Activation Required: To use a social network plugin, you must click on it to establish a direct server connection with the network.
- Account Association: If you are logged into your social network account when activating the plugin, the network can associate your website visit with your account. To prevent this, log out before activating the plugin.
- Data Transfer Control: Activating a plugin initiates data transfers managed by the social network. Your interactions and data exchange are governed by the privacy policies of the respective social network.
- Plugin Persistence: Social plugins remain active until you manually deactivate them or clear your cookies (see section 5.d).
c. International Data Transfers:
Clicking on third-party offers or activating social plugins may lead to personal data being transferred to providers in countries outside the European Economic Area (EEA). These countries may not have data protection laws equivalent to EU standards. Be mindful of this before interacting with such links or plugins and triggering data transfers.
d. Service Provider Utilization:
We employ qualified service providers (e.g., IT, marketing agencies) to operate, optimize, and secure our websites. Data sharing with these providers is limited to what’s necessary for website functionality, legitimate interests, legal compliance, or with your consent (section 7). Further details about data recipients are available in our consent management system. Just as we rely on trusted suppliers for mercedes benz part number components, we carefully select service providers to ensure data protection and service quality.
Cookies and Similar Technologies
a. Cookie Usage:
We use cookies, including HTML cookies and similar software tools like Web/DOM Storage and Local Shared Objects (“Flash cookies,” collectively referred to as “cookies”), on our websites.
b. Cookie Functionality:
Cookies are small files stored on your devices when you visit a website. They enable functionalities such as:
- Device recognition for returning visits
- Remembering language preferences and settings
- Providing specific website features (e.g., online shop, vehicle configurator)
- Recognizing usage-based interests
Cookies may contain personal data and are essential for a tailored online experience, just as a mercedes benz part number is essential for a tailored repair.
c. Cookie Types and Consent:
The types of cookies used depend on the website areas and features you use and your consent preferences within our Consent Management System for non-essential cookies.
d. Browser Settings and Cookie Management:
Cookie usage is also governed by your web browser settings (e.g., Edge, Chrome, Safari, Firefox). Most browsers are set to automatically accept certain cookies, but you can modify this in your browser settings. You can also delete stored cookies, Web/DOM storage, and local shared objects at any time. Consult your browser’s help manual for instructions.
e. Device and Browser Specificity:
Cookie consent, rejection, and deletion are device and browser-specific. If you use multiple devices or browsers, you need to manage your cookie settings on each.
f. Impact of Cookie Restrictions:
If you disable cookies or delete them, some website functions may be limited or inaccessible. Just as using an incorrect mercedes benz part number can lead to malfunction, restricting necessary cookies can hinder website functionality.
Data Security Measures
Mercedes-Benz implements robust technical and organizational security measures to protect your data from manipulation, loss, destruction, and unauthorized access. We continuously enhance our security protocols in line with technological advancements to maintain the highest standards of data protection.
Legal Basis for Data Processing
a. Consent (Art. 6, para. 1, letter a GDPR):
If you have given us consent to process your personal data, this consent serves as the legal foundation for processing.
b. Contractual Necessity (Art. 6 (1) b GDPR):
Processing personal data is legally permitted if it’s necessary for initiating or fulfilling a contract with you.
c. Legal Obligation (Art. 6, para. 1, letter c GDPR):
We are authorized to process your data if it’s required to fulfill our legal obligations (e.g., data retention).
d. Legitimate Interests (Art. 6, para. 1, letter f GDPR):
We process personal data to protect our legitimate interests and the interests of third parties. Examples include:
- Maintaining IT system functionality
- Direct marketing of our products and services (where consent isn’t required)
- Legally required documentation of business contacts
In assessing legitimate interests, we carefully balance various factors, including data type, processing purpose, processing circumstances, and your privacy interests. Just as using genuine mercedes benz part number parts protects the integrity of your vehicle, our data processing justifications protect the integrity of your data.
Data Deletion and Retention
Your IP address and ISP name, stored for security, are deleted after seven days. Generally, we delete your personal data when the purpose of collection and processing is fulfilled. Extended data storage only occurs if mandated by EU or member state legislation, regulations, or legal provisions, or by equivalent legal requirements in third-party countries. If deletion is not possible in specific cases, the data is flagged to restrict further processing.
Your Rights as a Data Subject
a. GDPR Rights:
Under the GDPR, you have the following rights:
- Right of access (Art. 15 GDPR)
- Right to rectification (Art. 16 GDPR)
- Right to erasure (Art. 17 GDPR)
- Right to restriction of processing (Art. 18 GDPR)
- Right to data portability (Art. 20 GDPR)
b. Right to Revoke Consent:
If you have consented to data processing, you can revoke your consent at any time. Revocation does not affect the legality of processing before the revocation. We may continue processing data if another legal basis applies (e.g., legal obligations).
c. Right to Object:
You can object to data processing based on Art. 6 Clause (1e) GDPR (public interest) or Section 6 Clause 1 f) GDPR (balance of interests) due to your specific situation. If you object, we will only continue processing if we demonstrate compelling legitimate grounds that outweigh your interests, rights, and freedoms, or if processing is for legal claims. You have the right to object to direct marketing at any time without providing reasons.
d. Contact for Rights Inquiries:
Please direct your claims or declarations to: [email protected]
e. Right to Lodge a Complaint:
If you believe our data processing violates legal requirements, you have the right to file a complaint with a competent data protection supervisory authority (Art. 77 GDPR).
Newsletter Subscriptions
If you subscribe to our newsletter, the information you provide is used solely for newsletter distribution, unless you consent to additional uses. You can unsubscribe at any time via the unsubscribe option in the newsletter.
Central Registration Service
The Mercedes-Benz Group AG Central Registration Service allows you to register for websites and applications across the Mercedes-Benz Group and its brands. Specific data protection provisions are outlined in the applicable terms of use on the registration pages of affiliated websites and applications.
International Data Transfers Outside the EEA
a. Service Providers and Consent-Based Transfers:
Data may be transferred to recipients in countries outside the European Economic Area (EU, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway), particularly the USA and India, when using service providers (section 4. d.) or with your consent (section 3.c.).
b. Adequacy Decisions and Safeguards:
The EU recognizes certain countries as providing adequate data protection: Andorra, Argentina, Canada (limited), Faroe Islands, Guernsey, Israel, Isle of Man, Japan, Jersey, New Zealand, Switzerland, Uruguay. For data transfers to other countries, we utilize EU standard contractual clauses, binding corporate rules, or other applicable instruments to establish an “adequate level of protection” as legally required. For further information, please contact us using the details in section 9.d.
Last updated: February 2022
