Who doesn’t want to own a Mercedes-Benz? All over they are known as an elegant luxury car with the style and speed of a race car. It is a great brand of automobile that many people have enjoyed throughout the years. So where did the Mercedes come from? Many people, including those who drive them, are probably not too familiar with their history. So let’s take a look at where this automobile got its start, as well as where it is going today.
The Start of Mercedes-Benz
In 1885, Karl Benz invented what was then known as the world’s first true automobile that was powered by an internal combustion engine. This is the start of what would become the present day company. Benz was granted a patent for this auto in 1886, and this went with his first engine patent from 1879. Also in 1885, Gottlieb Daimler and Wilhelm Maybach created the prototype of the modern gas engine. Daimler and Maybach founded the DMG in 1890 and sold their first car in 1892 (four years after Benz sold his first car). DMG coined the name Mercedes after the daughter of their top racer of automobiles, Emil Jellinek. The 1900 model of DMG car was the first of the Mercedes series.
This entire time, the Benz Company and DMG were main rivals. But in 1924 they began to work together. The merger was complete in 1926, and they sold Mercedes-Benz automobiles and trucks under the Daimler-Benz AG name. This merger agreed that these companies had to remain together until the year 2000. They also began to work on engines to power airplanes and boats. But Karl Benz died in 1929, and was only able to see some of the process through.
Trivia Bits About Mercedes-Benz
Mercedes-Benz has always been at the forefront of new technology. Here are some examples of that:
- 1951: Introduced front and rear crumple zones for crashes
- 1978: Anti-lock brakes were first used in Mercedes-Benz cars
- 1980: The first cars in Europe to use air bags.
- 1980s: First to explore the making of a robot car
- 1981: Introduced the seat belt that locks immediately on impact
- 1986: The first cars to use traction control
As you can see, they have always been ahead of the competition. Mercedes-Benz continues to progress their automobiles, and it has shown. They continue to be one of the leading car manufacturers in the world. They continue to change and expand on car models to stay ahead of the curve. With dealerships in over 130 countries, odds are that you have seen a Mercedes-Benz on the road. That does not appear like it will be changing anytime soon. Over one hundred years of leading the automobile revolution. I think it is safe to say we can expect another one hundred years out of them.
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