Social Media: As Mercedes-Benz employees, we are incredibly powerful brand ambassadors. It is our responsibility to act in accordance with our brand values at all times, and especially when communicating on a public platform such as social media. We encourage dealer employees to show pride in their place of employment, the brand and its products. We also ask you to be mindful of the affect your communications can have on yourself and the brand. 1 Show Your Pride. Dealership employees are encouraged to share their afÏnity for their dealership or the Mercedes-Benz Brand on their personal social media sites. General statements about company pride or the pictures/ofÏcial posts from MBUSA and smart channels on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube etc. can be shared to your personal networks. 2. Be Yourself. Be Honest. If the conversation is related to our business, disclose your afÏliation with the brand. Do not misrepresent yourself as speaking on behalf of Mercedes-Benz USA or your dealership on your personal social channels. 3. Follow Brand Guidelines. If posting information on Mercedes-Benz products for commercial purposes, request permission, adhere to the Mercedes-Benz communication standards, be sure all advertised prices follow the Sales Program Guide and are properly disclosed. 4. Keep Confidential Information Confidential. Do not share confidential information. Refrain from speculation on the future of the company and its products. Never comment about recalls, lawsuits, financials, new products, or non-public events. OfÏcial legal terminology for your reference: 1. The Dealer employee may post social media pictures, sharing of ofÏcial posts from MBUSA/smart using the native functions (clicking share button without modifying message) in Facebook, Twitter (Retweet), Youtube etc. and/or self- created content on social media sites, as long as there are no violations of the tenants stated herein. Employees are also not precluded from making general statements expressing their pride in being afÏliated with their respective Mercedes- Benz dealers or the Mercedes-Benz brand on their personal social media sites. 2. Employees of the dealers are NOT authorized to use any Mercedes-Benz or Daimler AG logos and trade names on their personal social media sites for commercial purposes, including Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIN, Pinterest, etc., without the express written consent of Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (“MBUSA”). Any such use violates United States trademark laws and could subject the employee to legal liability and financial losses. 3. Dealers should instruct their employees that any Mercedes-Benz related social media sites that they create, publish and/or promote must contain a clear and conspicuous disclaimer which sets forth that the sites or pages are not afÏliated with Mercedes-Benz, Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (“MBUSA”) and/or the Dealer that MBUSA and the Dealer do not endorse their sites. 4. If a Dealer employee is participating in blogging or posting regarding Mercedes-Benz vehicles they must clearly and conspicuously disclose their afÏliation as an employee of an authorized Dealer on their social media sites. This is required by Federal Trade Commission endorsement rules and guidelines. For example, use of the hashtag #IworkforMBAtlanta or #EmplofMBDallas. 5. Please be advised that dealer employees will be held accountable for the social media content they create. Employees should make every attempt to ensure content is within MBUSA guidelines. MBUSA will deal with all infractions on a case by case basis and we reserve all of our rights under the law. 6. Dealers must instruct their employees that trade secrets, internal communications intended to be private, confidential information of any kind, and all other similar materials regarding the brand and vehicles may NOT be posted on any site or page. This includes pricing guidelines, spy shots of new models and the like. MBUSA will take measures to protect confidential information, which could include the Dealer, if the Dealer failed to properly safeguard such information, including providing appropriate admonitions to its employees. Published August 2015, Rev. 10 Mercedes-Benz Brand Communication Standards l Page 68
