How Did Mercedes-Benz Get Its Name?

Mercedes-Benz may be a household name when it comes to luxury cars, but where does it actually come from? The history of this car dates back to the late 19th century, when German innovation and marketing strategy built the brand we know and love today.

The Beginning of Mercedes-Benz

Mercedes-Benz has its origins in 1886 when Karl Benz presented an internal combustion engine within a car, which he called the Benz Patent Motorwagen. This is widely believed to be the world’s first automobile

There’s even a fun video about the first driver being Bertha Benz, Karls’ wife, on the road forging the story of Mercedes-Benz through history. There is a great page detailing this history celebrated by Mercedes-Benz

Read more about Bertha Benz being the first driver here >>

German engineers Gottlieb Daimler and Wilhelm Maybach elaborated on the Benz Motorwagen by incorporating a petrol engine later in 1886. They began marketing vehicles under Daimler’s company, Daimler Motoren-Gesellschaft (DMG), in 1901.

The Birth of “Mercedes”

The name “Mercedes” first emerged in 1901, shortly after the death of Gottlieb Daimler. Emil Jellinek, a German-born racing enthusiast and entrepreneur, helped to market the “horseless” Daimler automobiles to the wealthiest circles.

In 1899, Jellinek drove in a race in Nice, France under the name “Monsieur Mercedes.” Mércedès was the name of his daughter, whose Spanish Christian name translates to “mercy.” Not long after (In 1901), DMG trademarked the name “Mercedes” and Jellinek began marketing the new vehicle abroad to such high profile families as the Rockefellers, Astors, and Morgans.

The Three-Pointed Star

It is reported that Gottlieb Daimler sent his wife a postcard in the 1870s. He marked his residence with a three-pointed star symbol, adding the phrase, “One day this star will shine over our triumphant factories.”

When DMG registered Mercedes as a trademark in 1901, Daimler’s sons suggested the company use their father’s star as a symbol. It was accepted in 1910 and was trademarked by DMG, who also registered a four-pointed star.