You start your discovery tour in the 19th century. At that time, the horse was still the most used form of transportation.

Working independently, Gottlieb Daimler and Carl Benz were the brains behind the first automobiles, which turned their wheels first in 1886. A combination of their brilliant inventions and the input of equally inspired partners such as Wilhelm Maybach helped to get the world on the move.

Due to his premature death, Gottlieb Daimler does not witness one of the most outstanding designs Maybach produced for the joint company. The first Mercedes generates great excitement at the “Nice Race Week” in March 1901. It is a powerful, lightweight vehicle with a low centre of gravity and stands out from all previously built cars.

Automobiles and airplanes are more closely related than it would appear at first. As early as 1888, Gottlieb Daimler had supplied the engine for an airship owned by Leipzig-based bookseller Friedrich Hermann Wölfert. Both Daimler-Motoren-Gesellschaft (DMG) and Benz & Cie. started developing engines specifically for aircraft even before World War I. 

As the inventor of the truck and the van, Mercedes-Benz revolutionized goods transport. Gottlieb Daimler built the first truck in 1896. In the same year, Carl Benz developed the first van, called “delivery vehicle” or “business vehicle” at the time. With their inventions, they laid the foundation stone for the motorized transportation of goods.

The German economic miracle after World War II would have been inconceivable without vehicles from Daimler-Benz. The political fathers of the social market economy, the Deutschmark and the economic miracle had themselves chauffeured through the flourishing country in representative Mercedes-Benz saloons and cabriolets. 

Helping, rescuing and recovering often is a race against time – every minute counts and helpers need fast and reliable vehicles. Traditional horse-drawn carts were no longer capable of performing these tasks especially in the cities and the large industrial centres and conurbations which emerged as a result of the industrial revolution in the 19th century.

The Mercedes-Benz brand and its predecessors have always been synonymous for out-of-the-ordinary automobiles, which underline their owners’ demanding personalities.

The 1980s mark the beginning of great social and political changes. A greater sensitivity for environmental issues gains social importance. At the same time, the end of the Cold War, globalization, an increasingly networked world and major economic crises present new challenges.

Racing successes are an important part of the Mercedes-Benz story. Ever since the first automobile race in 1894, Mercedes-Benz and its predecessor brands have repeatedly used motor races to prove their performance and reliability. The company’s proud record in the motorsport arena is, of course, dominated by the Silver Arrows that have become part of car racing history. 

We hope you enjoyed this entertaining tour through the Mercedes-Benz Museum. Discover our other discovery tours or let our skilled guides explain the museum to you.