Mercedes-Benz FAQs at Mercedes-Benz of Thousand Oaks
When was the Mercedes-Benz brand born?
The Mercedes-Benz brand has a long history that begins with Gottlieb Daimler, born in Germany in 1834. Daimler, along with Wilhelm Maybach, worked to craft a high-performance engine that could drive a vehicle without horses. The two engineers worked together to create a test engine with a vertical cylinder, dubbed the Grandfather Clock. This design, crafted in 1884, would be what allowed Daimler and Maybach to eventually install an engine in a motor vehicle.
Using the Grandfather Clock design as a template, Daimler and Gottlieb built a smaller single-cylinder engine that they installed in a carriage that resembled a bicycle, essentially inventing the motorcycle. This motorcycle-like vehicle earned the name Daimler Reitwagen, or Daimler Riding Car. This marked a major milestone in automotive production, and it would go on to inspire engineers to reach for new heights.
The fusion of the Mercedes and Benz brands into the singular Mercedes-Benz brand name launched in 1926.