The History of Mercedes-Benz

Mercedes-Benz – The Brand & History.

The Brand.

The name "Mercedes-Benz" is synonymous to the production of high-quality and innovative vehicles. Our roots run deep. So do expectations. With a legacy that stretches back more than a hundred years, we have a lot to live up to - but as today's connoisseurs of fine automobiles know, we have even more to offer. We were the first. And we strive constantly to remain the finest.

The Mercedes-Benz brand's origins and history began with the merger in 1926 of Gottlieb Daimler's company "Daimler-Motoren-Gesellschaft" and Karl Benz's company "Benz & Cie". While Benz & Cie kept the original name in their trademark, a completely new and unusual brand name, "Mercedes" (Spanish name meaning 'grace'), was brought out just after the turn of the century for the products of Daimler-Motoren-Gesellschaft.

In 1998, Daimler-Benz and Chrysler agreed to combine their businesses in a "merger of equals". A real global player, DaimlerChrysler has more than 50 production and assembly plants as well as 6,300 service and sales support outlets for passenger cars and commercial vehicles.


The History.

The Founders
In January 1886, Karl Benz patented the world's first automobile powered by an internal combustion engine. A few weeks later, Gottlieb Daimler, inventor of the fast-running combustion engine, received a patent for his "Moto Carriage". The two men would never meet, but their engineering contributions would forever change the course of history.

Karl Benz
Born in Karlsruhe, Germany, on November 25, 1844, Karl Benz discovered his life's passion while studying engineering at a local technical school. He founded "Benz & Companies, Rheinische Gas Engine Factory" in Mannheim on October 1, 1883.

Benz's purpose was "Producing combustion power machines according to the Karl Benz design". On January 29, 1886, Karl Benz received the patent for the world's first automobile powered by an internal combustion engine.

Gottlieb Daimler
Born in Schorndorf, Germany, on March 17, 1834, Gottlieb Daimler was the pioneer of engine-powered transportation on land, sea and air. He was a true visionary, devoted to the notion that every conceivable vehicle could be equipped with one of his engines.

In 1885, he built the first land vehicle powered by an internal combustion engine, a motorcycle. The following year, he built the world's first four-wheeled automobile and became the first person to put an internal combustion engine in a boat. In 1888, he equipped a Zeppelin with Daimler engines.