Mercedes-Benz

Mercedes-Benz is a German brand name of automobiles, buses, coaches, and trucks owned by DaimlerChrysler, previously Daimler-Benz (1926–1998). Mercedes-Benz automobiles have introduced — both in the past and present — the majority of technological and safety features common in modern vehicles. (see details below).

Origin of logo and brand

Established in 1871, Benz & Cie. was the most important of several companies founded by Karl Benz. The Benz patent motor wagon was ahead of its times; by 1886, Benz had the first four-stroke engine. Karl Benz is credited as the inventor of the first "true" automobile since Daimler's vehicle was a horse carriage adapted with an engine, whereas the 1886 Benz automobile had a chassis designed from scratch.

Daimler Motoren Gesellschaft-(DMG) was founded by Gottlieb Daimler and his partner Wilhelm Maybach in 1890. Daimler died in 1900 and Maybach left DMG in 1907. By then, Benz & Cie. and DMG were rivals. In 1924, owing to economic necessity after World War I, they entered into an "Agreement of Mutual Interest" valid until the year 2000. This initial agreement still allowed each company to manufacture and sell their products under their original brand names. After the official merger in June 28, 1926, the firm became known as Daimler-Benz.

The hyphenated brand name Mercedes-Benz was established after that merger. The brand name Daimler had been licensed for use on other automobiles in France and the United Kingdom, and was therefore not available to Daimler-Benz. Instead, the name of its seminal Mercedes model designed by Maybach over twenty years before was chosen for the DMG portion of the new brand. ("Mercedes" had been painted on a DMG vehicle used in races by a man in honor of his daughter, and became the formal name of a DMG model in 1902, see below.) Thus, Mercedes-Benz became the brand name applied to the models of one of the new firm. Because of its eponymous tie to Karl Benz and his early vehicles, Mercedes-Benz is also the name of the world's oldest continuously produced automobile line.

As part of the 1926 merger, a new logo was created that would include a symbol for each and integrate the names of the two former companies. A three-pointed star had been designed by Gottlieb Daimler, to show the ability of his motors for land, air, and sea use. This star first appeared on a DMG model in 1909, so it was chosen for the new logo. The traditional laurel wreath symbol used by Karl Benz was added along with his name to complete the new logo. The logo with a plain ring, as seen today, was not used until 1937.

In 1998, Daimler-Benz and Chrysler agreed to combine their businesses — promoted as the "merger of equals" — and the new entity was named DaimlerChrysler AG.

On May 14, 2007, the separation of Daimler and Chrysler was announced. Selling Chrysler has been seen as a positive move for Daimler by its shareholders, who hope that the separation will allow Daimler's car brand Mercedes-Benz to be free to do what it does best without having the distractions of its heavily unprofitable U.S. partner Chrysler. However, Daimler retains a 20 per cent minority stake in Chrysler.

Trucks

Mercedes-Benz is the world's largest manufacturer of trucks

The current range consists of

Mercedes-Benz Atego — Light truck from 7 to 16t

Mercedes-Benz Axor — Mid-sized truck from 18 to 26t in rigid and articulated

Mercedes-Benz Actros — Heavy duty rigid and premium articulated — 18 to 50t

Mercedes-Benz Econic — Low floor version of the Axor for refuse and specialist applications

Mercedes-Benz Unimog — For special purpose applications and transport across extreme terrain

1828L (F581) Mobile Casualty Treatment Centre

   1517L Mobile Casualty Treatment Centre

Mercedes-Benz Actros

The Mercedes-Benz Actros is a heavy duty truck introduced by Mercedes-Benz in 1997.

It is normally used for long-distance haulage, heavy duty distribution haulage and construction haulage.

It is available in weights of 18 tonne to 250 tonne and is powered by a V6 or V8 cylinder engine with turbo and intercooler.

Mercedes-Benz has launched Actros II in 2002.

Mercedes-Benz Econic

The Mercedes-Benz Econic is a truck introduced by Mercedes-Benz. It is normally used for waste collection, fire and emergency purposes and airport ground services.

It is available in weights of 18 t and 26 t and is powered by a 6 cylinder inline engine with turbo and intercooler. It is designed with special characteristics such as low floor, low overall height, automatic gearbox and even a natural gas engine to adapt to all above mentioned tasks.

Mercedes-Benz Axor

The Axor is a truck manufactured by Mercedes-Benz designed to fill the gap between the premium Actros tractors and the mostly rigid Atego trucks and was targeted at fleet customers.

The truck is relatively simple, with manual gearshift as opposed to the electronic paddle shift on the Actros. The Axor is powered by a 12 litre straight 6 engine.

2005

Originally the Axor was only available as a tractor but with the 2005 facelift, former Atego models over 18t are now part of the Axor Range.