125th birthday of first automobile

Carl Benz applied for the patent for his three-wheel automobile 125 years ago, that is, on January 29, 1886. Ever since, that date has been regarded the official birth day of the first automobile, which now celebrates its 125th jubilee. In the same period, Gottlieb Daimler was developing the first four-wheel automobile. In this way, working independently of each other, the founders of the company Daimler AG and its primary and globally successful brand - Mercedez Benz, laid the foundation stone for all passenger automobiles, freight vehicles and buses.

From that moment, the company that invented automobile has continued to develop it in more diverse ways and longer than any other manufacturer of motor vehicles - in all relevant sectors: from drive technology, comfort and safety, to design.

Mercedes got its name after the daughter of Emil Jelinek, an Austrian businessman who was a big lover of automobiles and an enthusiastic advocate of technical progress. Owing either to the magic of the name Mercedes, which is Spanish for "mercy", or Jelinek's victories at car races under that pseudonym, the vehicles with a three-pointed star, known as Mercedes vehicles, were accepted and recognized all around the world, which was the reason why the name was officially adopted in 1926.

(Karl Benz)

Extremely practical Benz and steadfast Daimler have together determined and broadened their vision to enter all segments of everyday life, enabling not only road transport, but also air and water transport, and giving in that way a meaning to the magical symbol of three-pointed star whose branches point to water, air and land.

After more than 125 years of mergers, crisis and wars, Mercedes-Benz is today a choice of presidents and kings, while its three-pointed star represents an universal symbol for individuality, prestige, quality, tradition, leadership and innovation.