Rival tribute: BMW pays Mercedes-Benz's outgoing-CEO a clever video tribute saying 'Retirement is about exploring options', here's how netizens are reacting

Automotive rivalry is best seen at the various high voltage car races be it the Formula 1, auto grand Prix or Nascar.

But a different level of competition was witnessed when BMW released a tribute to Mercedes Benz's outgoing CEO Dieter Zetsche with a veiled message to Zetsche that ' Retirement is about exploring your wide open future' i.e. an option pointing to BMW.

The video begins with the legend 'The last day' depicting the last working day of the Mercedes-Benz CEO Zetsche. An actor resembling Zetsche moves through adoring employees shaking their hands, posing for selfies as an applauding crowd bid a fond adieu to its leader. He is then seen handing over his Employee ID card and waving goodbye before he gets into his Mercedes-Benz S-Class car. As he progresses to his home, the rear view window displays the Mercedes office building with its prominent symbol on top.

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Once he reaches his home, a man (presumably a Mercedes-Benz employee) is seen taking over the car and departing Zetsche's home. Once the man departs, the frame shifts to Zetsche's garage which opens to reveal a newly 'free' Zetsche cruising in his shiny, orange BMW i8 Roadster. The video ends with a heartfelt message from BMW tanking Zetsche for his inspiring competition throughout the years.

Here's the video tribute:

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Not to be left behind, Mercedes-Benz rebutted tweeting that Zetsche would prefer the Mercedes-Benz EQ  to BMW's i8 roadster.

Big auto daddy - Daimler too joined the banter coming to its child company Mercedes-Benz's side tweeting that a horse ride would be preferable to BMW's i8 roadster as Zetsche's last ride.

After more than 13 years at the helm of Daimler, Dieter Zetsche has retired from his roles as a Chairman of the Board of Management of the company and Head of Mercedes-Benz Cars.

Netizens have enjoyed the auto banter tweeting: