• by Tanya Gazdik , January 14, 2025

Mercedes-Benz is launching a global campaign starring Antonio Banderas and his daughter, Stella.

Creative highlights the Mercedes-Benz E-Class, although the featured tehcnolgy is available in other models.

The short film, “In her Shoes,” follows Banderas driving Stella's E-Class for a day, borrowing her “Mercedes Me” personal identification number. The PIN unlocks access for him to experience some of her daily routines, giving him a peek into his daughter’s day-to-day life, with some unexpected moments. 

Creative shows how the E-Class adapts to its owner's habits and intuitively guides Banderas to Stella’s favorite places including a drive-through coffee shop, a nail salon, a nightclub, and her favorite restaurant. The ad ends with Banderas bringing home some take-out for Stella, who asks him how he knew about her favorite eatery. 

"Antonio and Stella Banderas are the perfect family team for our latest campaign bringing in daily life,” says Bettina Fetzer, vice president communications and marketing, Mercedes-Benz AG. “Their genuine father-daughter connection mirrors the essence of what the E-Class in particular stands for – connecting people through intuitive technology. Our business sedan offers a broad range of personalization that turns everyday journeys into a special experience.”

The campaign showcases various Mercedes-Benz technologies in an emotional way, rooted in a compelling narrative: the  bond between a father and his daughter, who is also the daughter of actor Melanie Griffiths.

The campaign kicked off in September with the launch of the spot in Germany. Alongside the two-minute film, a 60-second cutdown is featured on Mercedes-Benz USA's social media channels.

A cover of the 1976 song "Daddy Cool" is the film’s soundtrack, with a score by Georg von dem Busche. Team X was behind the concept, with François Rousselet directing and Matthew Jones as director of photography.

In other news, the automaker this week announced a $500,000 donation to the American Red Cross and the Los Angeles Fire Department Foundation to support disaster relief efforts in response to the devastating wildfires impacting communities across southern California. This contribution highlights the company's ongoing commitment to support the communities where its employees, dealers and customers live and work, according to the automaker.