
Two lawsuits against Mercedes-Benz over decorative seat badges that allegedly burned customers is the kind of story that sits at the intersection of brand identity and product liability — and it should make any owner of a similarly equipped car pay attention. Decorative interior trim is rarely subjected to the same scrutiny as mechanical components, yet it can reach dangerous temperatures under direct sunlight. The fact that this has escalated to litigation suggests the issue wasn't resolved quietly, which tells you something about either the scale of the problem or the company's initial response to complaints. If you own an AMG-badged interior, it's worth knowing this case exists.
In automotive terms, branding usually relates to logos that identify a particular car company's vehicles, but believe it or not, the word "brand" actually comes from the same root word as burning – th