Optimist Club Honors Dealer Leader Morty Zetlin for Lifetime of Service

October 21, 2026

WANADA extends its congratulations to Morty Zetlin, chairman of Mercedes-Benz of Arlington and Mercedes-Benz of Alexandria, who was recently honored by the Optimist Club of Arlington in recognition of his decades of service to the organization and the broader community.

At 94 years old, Zetlin’s career remains one of the great success stories in the Washington-area automotive industry. After serving in the U.S. Army in Germany during the 1950s, he joined what would become the family dealership business in 1957, starting on a used-car lot before rising through the ranks to leadership. Today, the dealership traces its roots to the earliest days of Mercedes-Benz in the United States and remains one of the few original Mercedes-Benz dealerships in the country to remain under continuous family ownership.

The recent recognition celebrated not only Zetlin’s accomplishments in the retail automotive industry, but also his longstanding commitment to civic engagement and youth development. The Optimist Club of Arlington has supported local students, athletic programs, and community initiatives for nearly 80 years, and the Zetlin family has been actively involved across multiple generations.

Those who know Zetlin point not only to his business success, but also to the mentorship, integrity, and community spirit that have defined his career. His leadership has helped shape both a respected dealership organization and a legacy of service that extends well beyond the showroom.

Please join WANADA in congratulating Morty on this well-deserved recognition and thanking him for his many contributions to the automotive industry and the Washington-area community.