Mercedes-Benz didn't become the paradigm of automotive innovation overnight. It took years of cultivating an image and direction, powered by some of the most intelligent designers and engineers in the industry. That diligence has paid dividends because today, Mercedes-Benz is recognized for its performance, luxury, and technology. By identifying needs and predicting trends, Mercedes-Benz has always stayed ahead, inviting other manufacturers to try and keep up. The result: a company built on hunting down success and invention. This automaker has never just made cars that are more advanced, it's also built machines that are crafted around the driving experience. With its fair share of roots in the motorsport world, Mercedes-Benz understands what it takes to make a vehicle perform well, under any conditions.
From Humble Beginnings
The origin story of Mercedes-Benz is also the origin story of the automobile. In 1886, Carl Benz patented the first-ever powered car. His wife, Bertha, promoted the Motorwagen by taking it on a 120-mile journey, serving as her own mechanic along the way. At the same time, Gottlieb Daimler and Wilhelm Maybach were collaborating on their own engine, which would eventually power the Daimler Reitwagen and the motorcoach. They followed up with the world’s first truck in 1896 and the first Mercedes in 1901.
The two companies created by these three innovative men merged in 1926, forming Daimler-Benz AG. This merger gave both companies more power in marketing, production, sales, and design. At the 1926 Berlin Motor Show, the brand unveiled the first Mercedes-Benz passenger cars. The automaker continues to be a driving force in innovation from the 1930s to today, making progress in suspension, performance, and safety.
From the Race Track to the Street
Developing new automotive technologies, like engines, drivetrains, suspensions, and advanced capabilities eventually require road testing. There’s nowhere better to test the capabilities of a car than at the race track. Mercedes-Benz has participated in motorsports for many years, adapting what it learned on the track to the cars it offers customers. That’s why the brand is so synonymous with top-tier performance.
Eight years after Carl Benz patented the first car, the first auto race took place. And the winner? A Daimler-powered car. In 1938, Rudolf Caracciola set the absolute speed record on public roads in the Mercedes-Benz W 125, and that record wasn’t beaten for nearly 80 years. Ever since the first car, Mercedes-Benz has been at the forefront of motorsport competitions, and that legacy that hasn’t changed. The AMG® badge reflects that spirit and performance in the vehicles the brand offers to customers.
Committed to Evolution
A lot has changed since Mercedes-Benz first changed the way people get around. From early concepts to modern racing marvels to some of the best consumer vehicles on the road, Mercedes-Benz has evolved as a company, and it continues to be the catalyst for many changes in the industry.
Mercedes-Benz is still committed to changing the automotive industry, and it remains a leader in efficiency, performance, and luxury. Visit Sears Imported Autos at 13500 Wayzata Boulevard, Minnetonka, MN 55305 or contact our sales staff online today and let us show you how the rich history of Mercedes-Benz has helped this brand generate some of the best vehicles on the market today.
Image Credit: Mercedes-Benz
