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The Mercedes-Benz story begins with two inventors: Karl Benz built the Benz Patent-Motorwagen in 1886, widely accepted as the first automobile, while Gottlieb Daimler independently built a four-wheeled motor carriage in 1886 with Wilhelm Maybach. Daimler's company began using the Mercedes name in 1901, derived from the daughter of dealer Emil Jellinek.
Benz & Cie. and Daimler-Motoren-Gesellschaft merged in 1926 to form Daimler-Benz AG, producing Mercedes-Benz cars. The three-pointed star logo represents the company ambition of motorization on land, water, and air, reflecting its history of engines for all three domains.
Mercedes-Benz built a reputation for engineering excellence, safety innovation, and luxury. The 300 SL Gullwing (1954) was the world fastest production car and introduced fuel injection to production cars. The S-Class has consistently set the standard for automotive technology, introducing innovations such as anti-lock brakes (1978), airbags (1980), and electronic stability control (1995).
The company also produced commercial vehicles, including trucks and vans, and through its Mercedes-AMG and Mercedes-Maybach sub-brands, covers high-performance and ultra-luxury segments. The shift to electrification has brought the EQ sub-brand and models like the EQS and EQE sedans and SUVs.
The 300 SL Gullwing (1954) was among the first production cars with gasoline direct fuel injection, a technology derived from aircraft engines that significantly increased power. (Earlier two-stroke applications existed on the Goliath and Gutbrod in 1952.)
Mercedes-Benz introduced the first anti-lock braking system (ABS) in a production car in 1978, developed with Bosch. It was first available on the S-Class.
The Mercedes-Benz S-Class W140 (1991) was the first production car with double-pane acoustic glass and an electronically controlled five-speed automatic transmission.
The Mercedes-Benz A-Class W168 (1997) introduced the sandwich-floor concept, where the engine and transmission slide under the floor in a frontal collision for increased passenger safety.
Mercedes-AMG, acquired by Daimler in 2005, had been an independent tuner before becoming the in-house performance division. The M156 engine (2006) was AMG first entirely in-house designed V8.
Karl Benz patented the first automobile, a three-wheeled vehicle powered by a 0.75 hp single-cylinder engine.
Benz and Daimler merged to form Daimler-Benz AG, and Mercedes-Benz cars began production under the combined company.
The 300 SL Gullwing debuted at the New York Auto Show with iconic upward-opening doors and direct fuel injection, becoming an instant classic.
Mercedes-Benz introduced the first electronic anti-lock braking system in a production car, the S-Class W116.
The W222 S-Class introduced Magic Body Control, which uses stereo cameras to scan the road ahead and adjust suspension proactively, raising the benchmark for luxury ride comfort.
How the platform works for buyers and dealers