By Christopher Tan

GERMAN car-maker Daimler has appointed a new head for its regional office here.

Mr Wolfgang Huppenbauer, 55, is Daimler South-east Asia's new chief executive. He replaces Dr Rainer Thiel, 60, who has retired after being at the helm since 2004.

Mr Huppenbauer is no stranger to Singapore. He was first here as deputy managing director of the Mercedes-Benz division in 1998, and headed the Singapore operations within what was then DaimlerChrysler.

He was posted to head Mercedes-Benz Thailand in 2006, before returning here this year.

Married, with two children, Mr Huppenbauer said his first priorities include "learning about Singapore, after being away for three years".

He said Daimler South-east Asia is now "fitter and leaner" than before. Daimler's headcount here has shrunk from more than 500 in the 1990s to about 300, with part of the consolidation triggered by Daimler AG's demerger with American car-maker Chrysler in 2007.

Mr Huppenbauer also let on that "we would want to stay ahead of the market".

Last year, Mercedes-Benz regained its position as best-selling luxury car here, after losing its long-held lead to arch rival BMW from 2005 to 2007.

In his new appointment, Mr Huppenbauer's responsibilities include Daimler's general distributor markets in South and South- east Asia. These include Brunei, the Philippines, Laos, Cambodia, Myanmar, Bhutan, Nepal, Sri Lanka and the Maldives.

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