Mercedes-Benz is perhaps the most famous and respected brand in the global automotive market. Cars with a logo in the form of a three-pointed star, placed on the hood or grille, have long been considered the standard of reliability and exclusivity.
The history of the Daimler A.G. concern, and this is the name of the transnational concern that produces various vehicles under the Mercedes-Benz trademark, is more than 100 years old and takes us to the end of the 19th century. No less interesting are the stories of the origin of the brand and logo.
At the origins of the creation of the Mercedes-Benz company were two German automotive companies: Daimler-Motoren-Gesellschaft and Benz & Cie. Rheinische Gasmotorenfabrik in Mannheim.
Benz & Cie. Rheinische Gasmotorenfabrik in Mannheim
Benz & Cie. The Rheinische Gasmotorenfabrik in Mannheim was founded by the engineer Karl Benz (1844–1922) in 1879. Initially, its main products were two-stroke gasoline engines developed by the owner of the company. Karl Benz was a talented inventor. In addition to the two-stroke engine, he invented and received patents for such important components for the car as:
- ignition system;
- spark plug;
- clutch;
- gear box;
- accelerator;
- water cooling radiator.
Not surprisingly, after that, Karl Benz developed his first Motorwagen (1885) and in 1887 organized its production at his factory.
In a short time, K. Benz developed and manufactured the world's first truck (1895) and a bus. The company also produced racing cars that won prizes in auto racing held at that time. During its existence, Benz & Cie achieved high popularity among motorists, but the post-war financial crisis brought it to the verge of bankruptcy and forced it to merge with Daimler-Motoren-Gesellschaft.
Daimler-Motoren-Gesellschaft
This company was founded by the talented inventor Gottlieb Daimler (1834-1900) in 1890. Shortly before that, he invented the world's first high-speed four-stroke single-cylinder engine and, on its basis, together with his friend Wilhelm Maybach, decided to organize the production of the first four-wheeled car. In 1900, G. Daimler died and his son Paul continued his work. After a series of unfortunate failures, the partners managed in 1901 to create a sample of a car that was distinguished by its original appearance and a solid volume of a 4-cylinder engine (6 liters).
On the basis of this sample, called the Mercedes-35PS, a fairly wide range of more advanced cars was subsequently released under the general name Mercedes-Simplex, aggregated with different engines and capable of speeds of the order of 90 km / h.
Interesting! Daimler-Motoren-Gesellschaft cars owe their name to the Consul of Austria-Hungary in Nice, who concurrently represented the interests of the company in France, Emil Ellinek. Having ordered one of the company's first cars for himself, he demanded that it be named after the Merciful Virgin Mary. In Spanish, Merciful sounds like Mercedes. By coincidence, the daughter of an Austrian also bore this name.
After the defeat in World War I, a severe financial crisis erupted in Germany. However, against the general background, Daimler-Motoren-Gesellschaft felt quite confident. After the war ended, the company began production of vehicles equipped with 1.6 and 2.2 liter engines. with a volumetric supercharger (compressor). The compressor made it possible to increase the power of the power unit by one and a half times.
The buyers of post-war Europe were especially struck by the six-cylinder Mercedes-24/100/140PS, the motor of which was also equipped with a compressor and was able to develop a power of about 140 liters. With. (cylinder capacity 6240 cm3). Ferdinand Porsche took an active part in the creation of this model, who since 1923 held the position of chief engineer in the company.
Interesting! At that time, the Daimler-Motoren-Gesellschaft company produced not only cars, but also engines for ships and aircraft. In order to emphasize its superiority in all three elements (air, earth, sea), a logo was chosen, which was a three-beam star.
Daimler A.G.
The post-war German economy, hit by a crisis, required major changes. Innovations initiated by the government of the country have significantly influenced the production orientation of the automotive companies Daimler-Motoren-Gesellschaft and Benz & Cie. and forced them to unite.
Daimler-Benz A.G.
Officially the two companies merged into one in 1926. The newly created concern was named Daimler-Benz A.G. It was headed by F. Porsche, who managed to combine the experience of both companies. Under the new management, the concern has updated its production line, taking as a basis the latest Mercedes models, to the name of which the prefix Benz has now been added.
The first development was the K series, which subsequently laid the foundation for the design of the new S-class car. Cars of the K series were distinguished by increased power and speed, which gave reason to call them "death traps" in everyday life. The top model of the series was a Mercedes-Benz 24/110/160 PS, equipped with a six-cylinder engine with a volume of 6240 cm3, which allows reaching speeds of up to 145 km/h.
In 1928, Hans Nibel became the head of the concern. His name is associated with the appearance in the nomenclature of the concern:
- small cars such as Mercedes-Benz 170 with a cylinder capacity of 1692 cc. see, equipped with independent front wheel suspension and Mercedes-Benz 130 with a rear-mounted 4-cylinder power unit with a capacity of 26 liters. With.;
- Mercedes-Benz 380 sports cars with an engine with a cylinder capacity of 5 liters;
- the famous Mercedes-Benz 770, known as Grosser Mercedes, equipped with an 8-cylinder compressor engine, whose power reached 200 liters. With. The cylinder capacity of this engine was 7655 cm3.
Hans Niebel was replaced in 1935 by Max Saller, under whose leadership was:
- for the first time in the world created a passenger car with a power unit running on diesel fuel. It received the designation Mercedes-Benz 260D;
- upgraded Mercedes-Benz 770, which received a frame of oval beams and a rear spring suspension.
During the Second World War, the concern not only did not stop its activities, but also began to manufacture trucks. This was facilitated by the fact that the concern supplied its cars to the leadership of Nazi Germany. However, at the end of the war, heavy bombing destroyed the production facilities, which took a long time to restore. The concern was able to start producing cars only in 1947. However, in the mid-50s, the concern was able to regain its leading position in the global automotive market.
Having restored its production facilities, Daimler-Benz A.G. began to additionally produce a wide variety of vehicles designed for the needs of both the German army and police, and for NATO countries. In addition, the production of trucks and buses was established.
Cooperation between Daimler-Motoren-Gesellschaft and Benz & Cie. ended in 1998, one of the longest running in Europe.
DaimlerChrysler AG
The history of Mercedes-Benz does not end there. In 1998, a decision was made to acquire a controlling stake in the American automobile corporation Chrysler LLC. At that time, the range of produced Mercedes-Benz passenger cars consisted of 12 series, the main of which were the C and E series.
The alliance of these companies, called DaimlerChrysler A.G., allowed the German company not only to enter the American market, but also to gain access to the latest technologies that were not previously used in the production of Mercedes-Benz cars. The result of the company's activities was the placement of the production of comfortable all-wheel drive vehicles of the ML-class in the United States. In addition, in 1999, the company bought out the AMG tuning studio, as a result of which many car series received high-performance AMG modifications as a more expensive alternative.
Daimler A.G.
Alliance DaimlerChrysler A.G. lasted only 8 years. In 2007, 80.1% of the shares were sold. After the transaction, the group's name was changed to Daimler A.G.
Currently, the Daimler A.G concern, which is headed by Dieter Zetsche, is one of the top five car manufacturers. It consists of:
- Mercedes-Benz Cars Group - the range of cars produced includes 550 different vehicles, including 350 passenger cars, 140 family cars and 60 sports cars;
- Daimler Trucks Group, which is engaged in the production of multi-tonnage trucks
- Mercedes-Benz Vans Group, which produces small-tonnage cars Mercedes-Benz;
- Daimler Buses Group, whose production facilities produce buses of the Mercedes-Benz, Orion Bus and Setra brands.
In addition, Daimler A.G. has the exclusive right to use a number of technical innovations, from the patent for a high-speed four-stroke engine developed by Gottlieb Daimler, a cardan drive, first used on a Mercedes 14/30 HP car (1909) and ending with the development of an 8-cylinder power unit with a v-shaped arrangement of cylinders with power from 204 to 231 liters. With. (1981).
Conclusion
Thus, over the more than 100-year history of the existence of the Mercedes-Benz automotive company, the very name of the company has become a well-known trademark (brand) under which innovative, safe and reliable cars are produced. That is why buyers are ready to purchase them at a price that significantly exceeds the cost of similar models from other companies.
Mercedes-Benz is a German company founded in 1926 that specializes in the production of engines and passenger cars. Now Mercedes is a subsidiary of the Daimler-Benz concern, its headquarters is located in the German city of Stuttgart. Mercedes Jelinek is the daughter of a wealthy Austrian businessman who had a great passion for cars. In October 1901, when the girl was only eleven years old, she demanded from her father that the cars that he wanted to buy should bear her name.
The history of the German company Daimler Motoren Gesellschaft, which produced Mercedes cars, begins in 1900. In addition to cars, it also produced aircraft and marine engines, which was the reason for the adoption in 1909 of the logo in the form of a three-pointed star, as a symbol of the brand's success on water, land and in the air.
This brand is known all over the world, it is sold in cities, metropolitan areas, regions, political entities such as Thailand, Poland, Kazakhstan, Finland, the European Union, India, the USSR, Vietnam, Japan, Lithuania, Turkey, Israel, Georgia, North Ossetia, Libya, Ingushetia, Malaysia, Russia, Moldova, Iran, Asia, Spain, Cuba, USA, St. Petersburg, Dominican Republic, Australia, Italy, Great Britain, Moscow, Chechnya, South Ossetia, Azerbaijan, Dagestan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Europe, Canada, Africa , Belarus, Montenegro, Switzerland, Croatia, Tunisia, Abkhazia, France, Indonesia, Greece, Egypt, Bulgaria, Latvia, Singapore, Estonia, Armenia, Philippines, Mexico, Kyrgyzstan, China, Brazil, Ukraine, Germany, Czech Republic, Austria, Australia .
Each country has its own currency, there are a lot of them, for example, Australian dollars, yuan, euros, Canadian dollars, hryvnias, Singapore dollars, New Zealand dollars, Swiss francs, litas, British pounds, Japanese yens, tenge, US dollars, rubles, Belarusian rubles . Any of these currencies can be used to buy a car from Mercedes.
In 1926, the firms "Benz" and "Daimler" merged into one, so the star was inscribed in the ring, it was a tribute to the past accomplishments of the Benz cars in the races. That's right, the emblem is often used today.
The first model "Mercedes-35R5" with a four-cylinder engine with a volume of 5913 cubic centimeters had a classic arrangement of units. The engine was placed in front, and the drive wheels were rear.
This car became the basis for the development of all future models that have been produced since 1902 under the Mercedes-Simplex brand. The most famous representatives of this series include the models "60PS" and "40 / 45PS" with engines of 6785 and 9235 cubic centimeters, moreover, the last of them could reach speeds of up to ninety kilometers per hour.
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Subsequently, the Daimler company produced a whole series of passenger cars with engines from 1568 to 9575 cm3, including magnificent cars with a body that was completely closed.
Some of them were equipped with valveless Knight engines (Knight), which had a spool valve distribution, Mercedes-Knight with a 4055 cm3 engine was produced until 1924. Sports "Mercedes" were winners in many international competitions that were held even before the start of the First World War.
The most mass-produced products of the company were the middle-class models "W-110/111", which in 1967 were replaced by a large series of cars from "200" to "280E", "W-114/115".
This family of cars was produced not only in the body of a four-door sedan, but also a five-door station wagon, two-door coupe and a hardtop (having window openings without intermediate pillars). The diesel engines of these vehicles were very popular. Further development led to the appearance of the "W-124" series (1984-1995) and "W-123" (1976).
Compact-sized cars, which the company abandoned in the fifties, began to be produced again only in 1982 ("W-201"). This series includes the "190" models in several trim levels with engines that had a working volume of 1.8-2 .6 liters and power 75-185 hp In the nineties, there was a big change in the program "Mercedes-Benz. The company presented its products in new areas of the automotive market.
However, the classic "E" and "C" series cars remain the basis of the company's program. The range of Mercedes-Benz models in 1998 was very extensive. Buyers were offered dozens of modifications and models of twelve separate families.
Mercedes cars are liked by poets, writers, artists, employees of embassies and consulates, investors, lawyers, politicians, employees of travel agencies and insurance companies, lawyers from visa departments, actors, financiers, athletes, models, businessmen, people from the world of show business , including Ksenia Sobchak, Verka Serdyuchka, Nikolai Baskov, Oleg Gazmanov, Ani Lorak, Iosif Kobzon, Anastasia Volochkova, Pavel Volya, Kristina Orbakaite, Vladimir Presnyakov, Philip Kirkorov, Valery Leontiev, Alla Pugacheva, Mikhail Shufutinsky.
For the sake of such high-quality and good cars, many motorists sell sugar, coffee, gasoline, coal, cotton, wheat, gold, silver, oil, gas, and other goods.
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Since 1997, small-sized class A models have been produced. They are one of the most popular car classes among Europeans. The cars have front-wheel drive and are equipped with engines with a displacement of 1397 to 1689, their power ranged from 60 to 102 hp.
In 1993, the compact C-class "W-202" (4-door sedan and 5-door station wagon) appeared, and in 1997 the compact C-class "W-202" was heavily modernized. The working volume of engines for models from "C 180" to "C43AMG" ranges from 1799 to 4266 cm3, and power - from 95 to 306 hp.
The E-class, which is considered intermediate ("W-210"), began to be produced in 1995. A wide range of engines of different displacement and type, from 1998 to 5439 cm3, with power from 95 to 354 hp, is able to attract many customers. Models from "E200" to "E55AMG" are available in the offers.
The S-class, which is a representative ("W-140"), began to be produced in 1991, these are models from "S290" to "560". Cars are equipped with 6-, 8- and twelve-cylinder engines with a working volume from 2799 to 5987 cm3, and power from 177 to 394 hp.
At the end of 1998, a new generation of S-class cars appeared. They are slightly smaller in size and weight compared to the "W-220" series. They are equipped with V6, V8 and V12 engines with a volume of 2.8-5.8 liters.
"SLK" - sporty, light, short, is a group of sports cars with 2-door bodies.
The roadster and coupe were shown for the first time in the spring of 1996. Their characteristic feature is the presence of an all-metal top, which automatically assembles in the trunk in twenty-five seconds. These models use only four-cylinder engines with a volume of 1998 and 2295 cm3, and a power of 136-193 hp.
Since 1997, on the chassis of C-class cars, they began to produce coupes of the "CLK" type with 4-, 6- and 8-cylinder power units with a volume of 1998 to 4266 cm3 and a power of 136 to 279 hp. Cars of the "SL" type are two-seat coupes and roadsters, as well as "CL" (4-, 5-seater luxury coupes), which have been produced since 1989 and 1992.
In terms of power units and chassis, they were unified with the S-class family and equipped with 193-394 hp engines. All-wheel drive and multi-purpose vehicles also include the G-class family, which appeared in 1979. Cars of 1998 have diesel and gasoline engines with a working volume of 2874-3199 cubic centimeters with a power of 122-215 hp.
New all-wheel drive comfortable ML-class models have been produced in the USA since 1997 and are equipped with gasoline engines that have a power of up to 270 hp. Since 1996, the station wagon family has included V-class cars with turbocharged and gasoline and diesel power units with a volume of 2.3 liters, and a capacity of 143 and 98 hp. In 2000, the S, C, and CL class models were updated.
The history of Mercedes, one of the most popular and largest automotive companies, is full of interesting facts. It is very rich and dates back to the end of the 19th century. Well, it’s worth briefly talking about the most interesting moments and telling how the brand appeared, which today is synonymous with the words “taste”, “style” and “luxury”.
How it all began
The history of the creation of Mercedes-Benz is full of many interesting facts. And one is certainly known to most motorists. And it lies in the fact that the brand arose due to the merger of two brands. The first was called "Daimler-Motoren-Gesellschaft", and the second - simply "Benz". In 1926, a single firm was formed. The concern became known as Daimler-Benz.
It all started with the appearance in 1886 of a three-wheeled self-propelled cart equipped with a gasoline engine. Its creator was He received a patent for the invention and began mass production. In 1891, he created a 4-wheeled car. In parallel, Daimler releases the Mercedes-35PS model, which is also becoming popular. But Karl Benz decides to keep up and, together with his team, presents a racing car, which they called "Blitzen Benz". Its engine produced as much as 200 horsepower. It is not surprising that the car became the most famous racing model at that time. But how did the merger of the two strongest competitors happen?
Further developments
After 1926, the history of the Mercedes brand began to develop in a new way. A merger took place, and the new concern was able to effectively use the knowledge, experience and skills of the designers of both companies. And the leader was a man named Ferdinand Porsche. Thanks to him, the production program was completely updated. As a basis for future cars, he took the latest Daimler models. And the first development was the so-called compressor series. Cars with 6-cylinder engines with a volume of 6240 cm 3 could not but become popular. This car was even given the name "death trap". And all thanks to the huge (at that time) power and speed. After all, the models could accelerate to 145 km / h.
But in 1928 Ferdinand left the company. He was replaced by Hans Niebel. Under his leadership, cars with a 6-cylinder 3.7-liter engine were invented, after which they developed engines with 8 cylinders. Their volume was already 4.9 liters.
And in 1930, the history of "Mercedes" received a new round. After all, a model that is legendary today has been released! And this is a “Big Mercedes”, equipped with a 200 hp 8-cylinder engine, the volume of which was 7655 cm 3. This model also had independent suspension and a supercharger. So there have been successes.
Emblem and name
This is also a rather interesting and important topic, which should definitely be noted when talking about the Mercedes concern. The history of the name is simple and uncomplicated. Mercedes-Benz - that's what its full version sounds like. Mercedes is the name of the daughter of one of the founders of the concern. Actually, even before the merger, cars were produced under this name. And Benz is the surname of the second founder, Karl. This is the history of the name of "Mercedes".
As for the logo, things are a little different. There is a more interesting story here. Mercedes-Benz is known for its three-pointed star. How did she appear? There are several versions. The first says that each ray is a symbol of air, water and earth. After all, concerns produced not only cars, but also engines for balloons and motor boats. That is, the emblem, as it were, explained that manufacturers succeeded almost everywhere, in all areas.
The second version is more romantic. Allegedly, the founders of the company, who were Gottlieb Daimler and Emil Ellinek, could not come up with an emblem. Everyone had their own proposals, but a compromise still could not be reached. And at one point they began to swear, and it almost came to a fight. The daughter of one of the founders did not like this, and she said that it was time to end the argument, and as a reconciliation, cross the canes. They did it. And suddenly everyone noticed that the picture looks very good. And so the famous three-beam star was born. Quite about the badge "Mercedes". The history of the brand, by the way, does not have an unambiguous hypothesis which version is correct. No one will ever know for sure.
War years
The history of Mercedes in the 1940s developed a little differently. The company did not stop producing vehicles, but on the contrary, specialists began to produce, in addition to passenger models, also trucks. And everything was fine until September 1944. Then a 2-week aerial bombardment, which was carried out by the Anglo-American Air Force, destroyed the concern almost completely. In the place where the factory was, only ruins remained.
The main workshop, which was based in Stuttgart, was destroyed by 70 percent. And the body and engine shops, located in Sindelfingen, suffered even more. They destroyed 85% of everything available. What can we say about the truck workshop, located in Gaggenau: there was nothing left of it at all. It was destroyed, as was the factory for the production of diesel engines. The factory called Benz und Cie (Mannheim) suffered the least: it was destroyed by 20%. The results were disappointing. The Board of Directors announced that the Daimler-Benz concern physically no longer exists. This is how the history of Mercedes turned.
After the war
But it didn't end there. The history of Mercedes cars began to develop in a new way. The first step was to restore all the destroyed factories. It took some time, namely two years. And production was resumed only at the beginning of the summer of 1946. But there was nothing for the design of new models: neither a good technical base, nor finances. So they began to act, as they say, in line with the budget. The first model released after the war was a sedan, known as the W136 - a 38 horsepower, small car. It started a new story.
In 1949, a major modernization was carried out. The motor was improved (power was 52 hp), they began to produce not only sedans, but also convertibles, as well as station wagons. Even versions with diesel engines appeared.
And by the beginning of the 1950s, they planned to launch a new, modern generation, but this required a good production base. Therefore, the planned had to be postponed and continue to produce somewhat outdated cars. But the history of the Mercedes company would not have been so interesting if the concern had not experienced so many difficulties. Still, in 1951, a novelty appeared with an 80-horsepower 6-cylinder unit.
The 1940s and 50s were not easy for manufacturers. But in nine years, we managed to create a good, solid foundation. And thanks to this, the company subsequently became the leading concern for the production of machines throughout Western Europe.
What happened next?
There is much more to be said about the Mercedes. All models, the history of which is very interesting, have left a certain mark on the technical progress of the company. Special attention should be paid to the so-called "Adenauers". Flagship models that were assembled by hand. And even the outdated design did not make them less popular.
W186 (a luxurious limousine for those times) was presented to the public in 1951, in November. Its features were a classic layout, a 6-cylinder 3-liter engine and an overhead camshaft. This model was produced both in the sedan and in the form of a limousine. This car has become incredibly popular among celebrities, politicians and businessmen. And why "Adenauers"? Because this car was very fond of the first chancellor of Germany. By the way, the car was completed with a radio, telephone and other little things that the owner only wanted to see. The interior was made individually, by order of buyers. It was a very popular Mercedes.
The history of the creation of the model says that the car was constantly upgraded (after all, it was assembled by hand, it was much easier to make changes). And in the end the car turned into a model called the W186 300b. More precisely, this is the name of the new series. With front windows, brake drums and other changes. And in the mid-50s, fuel injection appeared - one of the most ambitious inventions of that time. It was installed on the W188 300Sc model.
Sports models
The Mercedes-Benz concern, even in the 50s, was engaged in the production of not only passenger cars, but also racing ones. The cars of that time, like modern cars of the 21st century, were famous for their aerodynamic body. The W196 was especially popular. It was on it that a racer from Argentina named Juan Manuel Fangio won the Formula 1 championships in 1954 and 1955. The striking distinguishing features of the car were the desmodromic valve drive, as well as fuel injection.
In 1952, the W 194 model was released, which became famous. This is the predecessor of the famous SLR. She also participated in many races. Its body is made of a tubular frame, which experts covered with light aluminum sheets. Also, the car was distinguished by doors opening upwards (the same “gull wings”) and the shape of the cabin.
In 1953, they created a road version of this model. Thus was born the W198. Due to its performance and futuristic features, the car became very popular, especially among the US elite. A 215-horsepower engine, a maximum speed of 250 km / h and an interesting appearance could not leave anyone indifferent. Although initially the power was only 115 hp. However, modernization has done its job.
70s
In the fifties, the brand was able, as they say, to stand firmly on its feet. In the early sixties gained popularity, and then became known throughout the world. In the 70s, the brand reached a new level. The leaders of the concern adopted a new classification system. Now the prefix W has ceased to be the only one. Roadsters (R), coupes (C), station wagons (S) and long wheelbase (V) models appeared. Also, some styling standards began to appear.
And the first model of the seventies was the SL R107. It was published for 18 years, until 1989. The cars were equipped with both 6- and 8-cylinder engines. Basically, of course, V8s were popular. In America, these cars were snapped up like hot cakes. And the 560SL version was not sold in Europe.
The history of the Mercedes S-class began around the same years. In 1972, the 108th model was replaced by the W116, a representative of the S-class with the world's first anti-lock braking system and hydropneumatic suspension. And of course, another innovation is the 3-speed automatic transmission. Then came the flagship, which became very popular - 450SEL. It was equipped with a 6.9-liter V8 engine.
In 1973, a new test fell upon the concern - the oil crisis. Because of him, Mercedes sales have plummeted. However, due to the W114 / W115 models, which were in demand even then, the concern did not go bankrupt. And then came the budget and legendary W123. One of the most budgetary, strong and reliable Mercedes cars. The history of creation says that this car is one of the best among all that Mercedes has produced. And indeed it is. The 123rd still can some modern innovations from other manufacturers.
End of XX century
The 80s and 90s also brought a lot of popular Mercedes models. The history of creation, as well as modern reality, shows that many cars produced at that time are still popular today. Take, for example, the famous “five hundredth” in the back of the W124 or the back of the W201. These cars to this day are the dream of some connoisseurs of the old
But it's worth going back to history. In the 80s, the W126, V126, V126 Pullman (limousine) and C126 models were released. All listed cars were produced before 1991.
In 1982, the premiere of the W201 190 sedan took place. Compact, attractive, stylish, with a comfortable and convenient interior, it quickly became popular. The range of engines, by the way, was also very wide (from 1.8 to 2.6 liters, power varied from 75 to 185 horsepower). In just 11 years, about 1,800,000 cars were produced. It was an incredible score.
In the early 90s, new Geländewagen came out. They became known as the 463 and 461. The R129 SL also premiered. This car was published until 2001. In 1991, a new S-class appeared - the W140. The car was very large. And it was she who introduced the brand into the computer era. And this model was the first to be equipped with a V12 engine. In general, the 90s were very progressive.
Modernity
Nowadays, the Mercedes-Benz concern produces a simply unrealistically huge number of different cars. The history of Mercedes-Benz continues to be written. There is an A-class - small and compact cars. G-class - large and powerful SUVs. E and S-classes are reliable, presentable, expensive cars. Minivans, trucks, tractors, convertibles, supercars - what is not in the assortment of the largest German manufacturer. And many models are great, for example, the Brabus Rocket 900. Great design from the world's best tuning studio Brabus, 900-horsepower engine, top speed of 350 km/h - these are just a few of its features.
And the GT S AMG with a 4-liter 510-horsepower engine? Its cost is about 135,000 euros. The Mercedes S65 AMG (W222) is very popular now. It has a 5.5-liter 585-horsepower engine under the hood. And another feature is the 4MATIC system. True, now it can be found on many Mercedes.
SL roadsters are also in demand. Budget CLA (if the cost of 2 million rubles can be called such) find their customers. The peculiarity of Mercedes cars is that each of them is able to please almost everyone. Some people like the S-class, others - models from the C series. But the bottom line is that the developers of the Stuttgart concern produce cars that win the hearts of everyone. Not without reason, after all, Mercedes-Benz ranks second in popularity, quality and reliability among all manufacturing companies in the world. The first is Toyota. But, most likely, because in Asian countries the population is simply larger, which is why such a coefficient.
It is not often that a manufacturing or trading company can be proud of the fact that its history of origin and development spans more than a century. Mercedes Benz, which is today one of the divisions of the international concern Daimler AG, can certainly do this. After all, its history began in the 19th century, already distant for us.
Founders of Mercedes-Benz
At the origins of this world-famous German company, which produces not only premium cars, but also buses, trucks and other vehicles, there were three people: Gottlieb Daimler (1834-1900), Wilhelm Maybach(1846-1929) and Karl Benz (1844-1929).
Having worked for more than ten years in the first company selling internal combustion engines "Gasmotorenfabrik Deutz AG" for Nikolaus Otto, G. Daimler and W. Maybach left him in 1882 and opened their own business in one of the districts of Stuttgart (Bad Cannstat). They start developing carriage carriage with a high-speed engine, and already in 1886 they received a patent for it.
Working completely independently of them, Karl Benz in 1883 established his "Benz & Co", intending to start producing self-propelled three-wheeled motor carriage with a gasoline engine, for which he also receives a patent in 1886. The idea that a car with four wheels is more expedient comes to his mind later.
Karl Benz's first car
Benz’s three-wheeled car, which is not in great demand, would have remained in the backyard of history if it were not for the original decision of the designer’s wife, Berta, who (with purely feminine resourcefulness) helped draw the attention of potential buyers to the creation of a talented, but somewhat unlucky husband.
On a summer morning in 1888, Berta (without the knowledge of her husband), taking her two sons, went in a three-wheeled car to her parents from Mannheim to Pfarzheim, which was 90 km away. On the way, Frau Benz refueled with gasoline, sold in those years only in pharmacies, as a remedy for skin diseases.
After her triumphant journey, which was accompanied by numerous stops and stories about Karl's progressive and practical invention, the whole of Germany learned about this car, and the business of the Benz company went uphill.
By the way, it was thanks to the smart and technically savvy Berta that later on, Transmission and added lanterns for driving at night.
The history of the Mercedes brand
In 1901, the designer of Daimler-Motoren-Gesellschaft, Wilhelm Maybach, managed to create a successful model of the car, which especially attracted the Austrian consul in Nice, as well as the head of the French representative office of the company, Emil Jellinek.
As a person not only fanatically passionate about cars, but also a professional driver, E. Jellinek was also very practical. And having personally engaged in the distribution and sales of a new development, he contributed to its popularization. In this connection, he was able to convince Gottlieb Daimler to change the name of the model to the name of his youngest daughter- Mercedes, which means "merciful."
That is how, with the light hand of E. Jellinek, and also because of legal disagreements over the right to the Daimler brand with Pahnard Levassor, the car received a new name and in 1902 became the official trademark of the company.
Having won several auto races at once, Mercedes becomes a car that made a splash. Still: after all, its speed reached unprecedented at that time 60 km / h. European newspapers were full of headlines, quoting the phrase of the President of the Paris Automobile Club: "We have entered the era of Mercedes."
Development before connection
Mass production of cars according to the Daimler patent begins in 1889. And his Stahlradwager become the world's first mass-produced cars. The company patents a V-engine, a 4-speed gearbox and a 4-cylinder block. Benz, on the other hand, launches his serial Velo-Motorwagen much later, only in 1894.
It is noteworthy that in the same year the famous first world car race, designed to prove the reliability of the latest inventions of design thought, in which 15 out of 21 cars came to the finish line, and among them were Daimler and Benz models.
So, quite successfully working on the production of not only new cars, but also a variety of engines (for ships and aircraft), and even doing airships for some time, in 1901 Daimler-Motoren-Gesellschaft creates a car, which and was destined to become a legend. The famous Mercedes. And it becomes clear to Benz that his company lost in this race.
However, it was not worth talking about the final loss, because with the arrival of the talented designer Hans Nibel at Benz & Co, things are getting better, and the company successfully manages to release many new models, including racing cars, trucks and omnibuses.
And only after many years of competition, as a result of a deep crisis that engulfed the European economy, the two founders of the German automotive industry come to the decision to merge the companies into a single concern.
Merging two giants
This fateful event for the global automotive industry took place in 1924. And already in 1926, the united community, whose central office was located at that time in Berlin, received the name Daimler-Benz AG.
The merger took place a quarter of a century after the death of Gottlieb Daimler, when his father's company had long been headed by his son, Paul. He was also an outstanding designer: for example, it was he who invented volumetric supercharger of the engine, which allowed to increase its power by almost one and a half times.
The most talented Ferdinand Porsche, who almost completely updated the company's production program, became the chief designer of the united concern. It is he who owns the development of the famous S series.
Since Daimler still had problems with the brand name in some European countries, it was decided to sell jointly produced cars under the Mercedes-Benz brand.
Mercedes logo. History of occurrence
From the very beginning, the now world-famous three-pointed star was invented by Gottlieb Daimler at the end of the 19th century. He marked his house on the map for her, while uttering a prophetic phrase to his wife: “Someday it will rise above our factory, bringing happiness and good luck”. The three rays of the star are explained by the fact that at the dawn of its existence, the Daimler company was engaged in engines not only for cars, but also for ships and aircraft. Thus, the sign symbolized her superiority in three elements at once: water, earth and air.
Approved in 1909 and patented, this star is the permanent symbol of the company and still is.
Factories "Mercedes-Benz"
After the merger that had a positive effect on the fate of the concern, the company continued to develop, firmly gaining a reputation for itself. luxury car manufacturer. And with the outbreak of World War II, it also switched to the manufacture of trucks for military needs and aircraft engines for aircraft of the German army. Because of this, being strategically important objects, the company's factories by 1945 were almost completely destroyed by bombing.
However, it took only a year to restore production from the ruins. And already in 1946 Mercedes-Benz resumes car assembly, having released more than 200 cars from the assembly line. And in the next (1947) he restores the production of the most prestigious car of those times - the Mercedes-Benz 170V limousine.
Since then, the series has been updated regularly, and the company deservedly takes the place of the leader in the production of some of the most reliable, high-quality and flawless cars in the world.
The production of Mercedes in Germany, as well as their sales, has been breaking the company's historical records for the second year in a row. At the end of 2017, the Daimler AG group, which includes Mercedes-Benz, sold about 3.3 million vehicles worldwide, of which the share of Mercedes was 2.3 million. Such success allowed the concern to increase revenue to 164.3 billion euros, and raise net profit to a new high of 10.9 billion euros, up 23.86% year-on-year. This significantly strengthened the position of "Mercedes" as a leader in the premium class segment.
The history of the Mercedes company
The loss of Germany in World War II, the devaluation and strengthening of the position of Ford Motor Company in the domestic market forced the management of Daimler-Motoren-Gesellschaft and Benz & Cie to take drastic steps. So, in 1926, by merging two competitors, the world famous car manufacturer Daimler-Benz was born, which was later renamed Daimler AG.
The talented designer Ferdinand Porsche became the chief engineer of the new Stuttgart company. In a short period of time, he was able to completely update the production line and launched the first models of cars on the conveyor, which are now assembled under the Mercedes-Benz brand.
Factories "Mercedes"
The main production facilities of the company for the production of passenger cars are located in three German cities - Sindelfingen, Bremen and Rastatt. In Affalterbach, a subsidiary of Mercedes-AMG GmbH is based, which specializes in the assembly of independent models under the Mercedes-AMG brand and is the only official tuning studio of the manufacturer.
The first and main Mercedes-Benz plant in Germany has been operating since 1915 and is based in Sindelfingen.
It assembles cars of class E, S, CLS, S-coupe, GLC and GT.
The Mercedes-Benz Trucks truck plant is located in Werth. In 2013, he celebrated his 50th anniversary. Over the entire period of work, about 4 million trucks were assembled here. It is worth noting that this is the world's largest truck assembly plant.
The headquarters of Mercedes-Benz is located in Stuttgart.
It is part of a whole complex, which is located on the same territory. In addition to the Mercedes office, there is the central office of the Daimler AG concern, the home stadium of the local football club Mercedes-Benz Arena, a branded showroom selling retro and modern cars of this brand, and much more.
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The latest models of the company
In 2019, Mercedes-Benz will please fans with several new generations of famous models. Among them, the CLS model deserves special attention, which since 2004 has been delighting owners with its stylish design and strict German practicality.
The European market will also see the CLS 450 with a 367 hp petrol engine this year. With. and CLS 350 d and CLS 400 d models with 286 hp diesel engines. With. and 340 l. With. respectively. They come with a 9-speed automatic transmission.
The most powerful in the line will be the hybrid Mercedes-AMG CLS 53 with a 6-cylinder 3.3-liter turbo engine and an electric motor.
The price of a car in the basic configuration will be 60,571 euros.
In addition, the official German website of the manufacturer offers customers a new compact A-class sedan. At the start of sales in the basic modification of the A200, the car will be equipped with a 1.4-liter gasoline engine with a capacity of 163 hp. With. and a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic or 6-speed manual to choose from.
The A250 model will receive a 2-liter gasoline engine with 224 hp. With. A diesel modification will also be available, model A180 d, with an engine power of 116 hp. With. Both engines come with an automatic transmission. The price of a car in the basic configuration starts from 30,231.95 euros.
Factory tours
The city of Stuttgart is the birthplace of Mercedes-Benz, so the main museum complex of the company, opened in 2006, is located here. The well-known architectural bureau UNStudio was engaged in the project. At 16,500 sq. m of the museum presents a 130-year history of the manufacturer, which includes 160 cars and more than 1,500 unique exhibits.
The museum is open from Tuesday to Sunday from 9.00 to 18.00. The closing time of the box office is 17.00. On Mondays and public holidays, the entrance is closed to visitors. The ticket price for adults is 10 euros, for boys from 15 to 17 years old - 5 euros. Evening entrance ticket (after 16.00) costs 5 and 2.5 euros respectively. Children up to 14 years of age are admitted free of charge.
An audio guide, including in Russian, is included in the price. It is issued upon request at the entrance. Tickets are sold on the official website or at the museum box office. There you can also book a car tour in English or German. Ticket price - 5-15 euros depending on the chosen category.
For groups of up to 20 people, an individual tour is available at a cost of 80 euros.
There is an additional charge for admission to the museum. Reservations are made through the Mercedes-Benz Classic Contact Center.
In Bremen, where the Mercedes plant is located, there is another museum of the German manufacturer. It is interesting because the tour passes through the production facilities of the plant, and visitors can see from the inside how cars are made and what makes the brand so special.
The museum is open on Fridays from 14.30. Guided tours are in German and English. The cost for adults is 18 euros, for children - 10 euros. Tickets are only available at tourist information offices. Booking for a tour is required in advance. For those who are directly at the factory, the tour is free.
Mercedes in Russia
During 2017, about 37,000 cars from Mercedes Germany were sold in Russia. At the same time, in the segment of premium cars, Russia is one of the largest sales markets for the brand in Europe.
At the end of February 2019, the Russian government and the concern signed an agreement on the construction of a new plant in the Moscow region.
It will be located in the Esipovo industrial park. About 15 billion rubles will be allocated for the construction, and the first car should roll off the assembly line as early as 2019. The plant plans to assemble E-class models with further expansion to the production of GLC, GLE and GLS SUVs.
Other car brands made in Germany
Germany is known not only for the fact that Mercedes is produced in it, but also for the fierce competition within the country between car manufacturers for a client. The eminent rivals of the Stuttgarters include companies such as “”, “”, “”, “”, and “Opel”.
Conclusion
For more than a century of history, Mercedes-Benz has produced about a hundred different car models that have become legends of their era. Thanks to powerful motors and stylish design, they have won the hearts of many generations around the world. Modern technologies and constant innovations of the concern will surely earn admiration and respect from fans of this brand more than once.
Mercedes-Benz Museum: Video
