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Mercedes-Benz

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Mercedes-Benz is a world-renowned German automotive brand.

Concesionario de Mercedes-Benz, Múnich, Alemania, 2013-03-30, DD 21
Concesionario de Mercedes-Benz, Múnich, Alemania, 2013-03-30, DD 21

It specializes in manufacturing luxury vehicles and light commercial vehicles. The company is headquartered in Stuttgart, located in the Baden-Württemberg region of Germany. In 2018, it achieved status as the world's largest premium vehicle brand. During that year, the company reached a sales volume of 2.31 million passenger cars. The brand operates under the slogan "The Best or Nothing." Today, the company exists as Mercedes-Benz AG. This is a subsidiary of the Mercedes-Benz Group, which was established in 2019.

Mercedes-Benz EQC, Paris Motor Show 2018, IMG 0599
Mercedes-Benz EQC, Paris Motor Show 2018, IMG 0599

The origins of the brand are rooted in the very birth of the automobile. In 1886, Carl Benz created the Benz Patent-Motorwagen. This vehicle is widely recognized as the first automobile powered by an internal combustion engine. Benz financed this invention using his wife Bertha Benz's dowry. Around the same time, Gottlieb Daimler and engineer Wilhelm Maybach converted a stagecoach. They achieved this by adding a petrol engine to the vehicle. These separate developments eventually merged to form a single automotive legacy.

Carl-Benz coloriert
Carl-Benz coloriert

The name "Mercedes" entered the automotive world through an entrepreneur named Emil Jellinek. Jellinek worked with Daimler Motoren Gesellschaft, also known as DMG. He was a marketing strategist who promoted "horseless" automobiles to wealthy European society. In 1901, he named a 35 hp model after his daughter, Mercédès Jellinek. Jellinek even drove under the pseudonym "Monsieur Mercédès" during a race in Nice in 1899. Following his success, DMG registered "Mercedes" as a protected trademark worldwide in 1901.

Mercedessimplex1
Mercedessimplex1

A major turning point occurred on June 28, 1926. This was the date when the companies of Karl Benz and Gottlieb Daimler merged. This merger created the Daimler-Benz company, which produced the first Mercedes-Benz branded vehicles. The brand has since evolved through many corporate changes. In November 2019, Daimler AG announced a major split. Mercedes-Benz became a separate, wholly owned subsidiary called Mercedes-Benz AG. This new entity manages the car and van business. Meanwhile, heavy commercial vehicles like trucks and buses moved to Daimler Truck.

Gottlieb Daimler 1890s2
Gottlieb Daimler 1890s2

The company's history includes a very difficult period during the mid-20th century. During the 1930s, the company produced the 770 model, which was popular in Germany. By 1937, Daimler-Benz focused heavily on military products. This included the LG3000 lorry and the DB600 and DB601 aero engines. During World War II, the company shifted almost entirely to war production. In 1944, the company reported that a large portion of its workforce was not there by choice. Estimates suggest that between 46,000 and 63,610 employees were forced laborers, prisoners of war, or concentration-camp detainees. Following the war, the company paid $12 million in reparations to the families of these laborers.

Mercedes-Benz continues to produce a wide variety of specialized vehicles today.

2018 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 314 CDi 2.1 Front
2018 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 314 CDi 2.1 Front

They manufacture the Sprinter van and various light commercial vehicles. They also produce heavy-duty machines like the Unimog, which is used for specialized tasks.

Heidelberg Airfield - Mercedes-Benz Unimog U5023 - RKF BLESES - 2018-07-20 17-35-27
Heidelberg Airfield - Mercedes-Benz Unimog U5023 - RKF BLESES - 2018-07-20 17-35-27

The brand is also known for extreme luxury and high value. In May 2022, the company sold a rare 1955 Mercedes-Benz SLR. This car was part of the automaker's own collection. It sold for $142 million, making it the most expensive car sold by the brand. The proceeds from this sale were used to establish the Mercedes-Benz Fund.

Mercedes-Benz M156 Engine 02
Mercedes-Benz M156 Engine 02

The brand maintains a massive global presence through various subsidiaries and partnerships. Mercedes-AMG is a major division that became majority-owned by Mercedes-Benz in 1999. Another high-end brand, Mercedes-Maybach, focuses on ultra-luxury models like the S600.

Mercedes duo 2013 Malaysia
Mercedes duo 2013 Malaysia

The company also operates through joint ventures in many countries. For example, Beijing Benz produces cars for the Chinese market. In Vietnam, Mercedes-Benz Vietnam assembles models from CKD kits in Ho Chi Minh City. They even invested $33 million to upgrade their factory for AMG models. From buses and trucks to electric vehicles like the EQC, the brand's technology reaches many different industries.

Mercedes Citaro C2 n°462 Université STRAN
Mercedes Citaro C2 n°462 Université STRAN
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🖼️ Images & Media (12)
File:Carl-Benz coloriert.jpg
Carl-Benz coloriert.jpg
File:Gottlieb Daimler 1890s2.jpg
Gottlieb Daimler 1890s2.jpg
File:Concesionario de Mercedes-Benz, Múnich, Alemania, 2013-03-30, DD 21.JPG
Concesionario de Mercedes-Benz, Múnich,...
File:2018 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 314 CDi 2.1 Front.jpg
2018 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 314 CDi 2.1 Front.jpg
File:Zetros Schneepflug.JPG
Zetros Schneepflug.JPG
File:Heidelberg Airfield - Mercedes-Benz Unimog U5023 - RKF BLESES - 2018-07-20 17-35-27.jpg
Heidelberg Airfield - Mercedes-Benz...
File:Mercedes Citaro C2 n°462 Université STRAN.jpg
Mercedes Citaro C2 n°462 Université STRAN.jpg
File:Mercedes-Benz EQC, Paris Motor Show 2018, IMG 0599.jpg
Mercedes-Benz EQC, Paris Motor Show 2018,...
File:Mercedessimplex1.jpg
Mercedessimplex1.jpg
File:Mercedes duo 2013 Malaysia.jpg
Mercedes duo 2013 Malaysia.jpg
File:Mercedes-Benz M156 Engine 02.JPG
Mercedes-Benz M156 Engine 02.JPG
File:Mario Götze, Germany national football team (02).jpg
Mario Götze, Germany national football...
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