Mercedes-Benz Brazil won the Lotus Award in 2009 for the second time in a row and was chosen "Commercial Vehicle Brand of the Year". The brand with the three-pointed star won in ten categories this year, having thus received a total of 107 awards since the introduction of the Lotus Awards 16 years ago. This award was initiated by "Editorial Frota", publishers of the specialised magazine "Frota&Cia" ("Fleets&Co.")
Apart from this distinction for the commercial vehicle of the year, Mercedes-Benz do Brasil Ltd was able to receive other prizes in diverse product categories.
The Mercedes-Benz chassis OF 1722 for buses is the "Chassis of the Year" for the fourth time in a row. This means it is the seventh year in a row that the brand with the three-pointed star has won in this category. The Mercedes-Benz Sprinter Van was elected "Semi-light Truck of the Year", while the L 1318 Mercedes-Benz was winner in the category "Intermediate Size Truck of the Year". The Mercedes-Benz O 500 RS bus chassis was chosen "Highroad Chassis of the Year". Selection of the Lotus Awards is based on the official registration figures published by the "Associação Nacional dos Fabricantes de Veículos Automotores (ANFAVEA, National Union of Automobile Manufacturers).