We tell you the story of Mercedes-Benz on the occasion of its 120th birthday

Mercedes-Benz is one of the oldest and most highly regarded car brands in the automotive world. We tell you the reason behind its name and its elegant distinction.

Hearing about Mercedes-Benz conjures up images of luxury, Premium models and exceptional quality. The German brand is a favourite for many given the excellent results it consistently delivers to its customers. Throughout its history, the brand with the star has delighted us with classic models such as its saloons and sports cars, but it has increasingly ventured into the world of SUVs and has continued to develop its most classic vans, such as the Vito.

Mercedes is also a reference in terms of technology. Its models feature the most advanced infotainment and driver assistance systems. In fact, the Germans’ MBUX system is one of the most sophisticated on the market when it comes to car-to-driver communication. Recently, the German firm also announced an improvement to the software of this system for the models yet to come. But all this technological cutting-edge has an origin. On the occasion of the 120th anniversary, we are going to reveal how Mercedes-Benz came about and, above all, why it was given that name.

The only brand with a female name

120 years ago, an 11-year-old girl gave her name to what is today one of the most important car brands on the planet. On 2 April 1900, the company Daimler-Motoren-Gesellschaft decided to name its cars Mercedes in honour of the firstborn daughter of Emil Jellinek, a businessman and vehicle manufacturer from years earlier.

Jellinek sold Daimler cars in France and entered them in races. The first of these was the Mercedes 35 PS, which caused a sensation during a race in 1901. Besides its advanced technology for the time, it stood out for its elegant design. The Mercedes 35 PS is considered today one of the prototypes of the modern automobile, and its advanced architecture has served as a reference for automotive manufacturers today.

From that very moment, the name “Mercedes” accompanied all Daimler automobiles. The name was officially registered as a trademark on 23 June 1902. In June 1926, the merger between Daimler and Benz was made official to register the new brand as Mercedes-Benz and become the most elegant, luxurious and innovative models of the time.

To this day, Mercedes-Benz is the only car brand with a female name. The current Marketing Director, Bettine Fetzer, points out that women such as Mercedes Jellinek and Bertha Benz have marked the history of the German firm’s success since its beginnings. Since 2016, Mercedes-Benz has continuously been the most valuable luxury brand in the world and, as the only European brand, ranks among the top 10 most valued brands in the “Best Global Brands” ranking.

Gorden Wagener, Head of Design at the Daimler Group, asserts that the pursuit of the perfect staging of luxury and innovation is part of the brand’s DNA. It is part of its success. In its time, it created the most advanced technology of the moment and a unique driving experience that is still reflected today in models such as the new EQC.