Business Notes AUTOS

The offer: a free flight from the U.S. to West Germany. The catch: you have to buy a Mercedes-Benz. For the first time in its history, Daimler-Benz is resorting to an American-style gimmick to sell its luxury cars in the U.S. Because of the falling value of the dollar, the starting price in the U.S. for the smallest Mercedes, the 190 E 2.3, has risen by 32% over the past three years, to $29,000. As a result, U.S. sales have stalled, and the company has had to abandon its traditional take-it-or-leave-it attitude. Customers who take advantage of the Daimler-Benz offer can tour its Stuttgart factory, pick up their favorite model at a discount of up to 10% and be reimbursed for their air fare.