From Rediff
The story of great brands is often the story of great people. This definitely stands true for Mercedes-Benz. This brand which has come to symbolise luxury, class and excellence is the result of the life work of two great inventors - Karl Benz & Gottlieb Daimler.
The beginning reaches as far back as 1871 when Karl Benz along with a partner started the "Iron Foundry & Machine shop" but the partnership soon dissolved and Benz started to work on his own. The firm Benz & Cie was founded in Mannheim in October 1883.
Three years later, Benz developed his first automobile, a single cylinder four stroke engine. In 1889 Daimler and his Chief Engineer William Maybach came up with their model, a steel wheel car with a two cylinder V engine. This was followed by the establishment of Daimler - Motoren - Gesellschaft (DMG) and thus concluded the initial steps of the brand that millions now adore. (more...)
