In 1886 Karl Benz invented the first car, making him the most important engineer in economic history. Back in 1883 Benz had established Benz & Co. Rheinische Gasmotoren-Fabrik, which was merged in 1926 with
Daimler-Motoren-Gesellschaft to
create Daimler-Benz AG.

Bertha Benz – together with her sons Eugen and Richard – was one of the first people ever to undertake a long-distance journey with a gasoline-driven car. It provides a good example of her characteristic strength and will power.

As one of the pioneers in automobile construction Gottlieb Daimler was one of the most important engineers in economic history, together with Karl Benz. Daimler’s basic plan was to create petrol-only engines and use them to power every conceivable type of vehicle – on land, on water and in the air.

Together with Gottlieb Daimler, Wilhelm Maybach constructed the first fast-running petrol engine with float carburettor and hot-tube ignition system. Together with Karl Benz and Gottlieb Daimler he also counts amongst the pioneers of economic history and made a large contribution to the success of the company.

One of the first "gentlemen drivers“ was Emil Jellinek, who lived in Vienna and Nice. Initially a customer of the Daimler-Motoren-Gesellschaft (DMG), he started selling its vehicles in 1898. Jellinek wanted to prove the quality of these cars in motor racing. He pressed Wilhelm Maybach into constructing a new car with a particularly powerful engine which was to bear the name of his daughter Mercedes. After raging successes at the racing week in Nice in 1901 the name "Mercedes" became the talk of the town.