By Moses Akaigwe
Since Carl Benz registered his patent for the motor car (Motorwagen) in 1886 and Gottlieb Daimler built his motorised carriage (Motorkutsche) shortly afterwards, the history of Mercedes-Benz has for 140 years known only one direction: forward.
From Bertha Benz’s legendary pioneering journey to speed records, early milestones in autonomous driving, vision cars and high-tech drive systems: the brand repeatedly demonstrates its unwavering determination to win and how it is constantly rethinking the automobile.
In 2026, this DNA is set to become particularly visible: the 140th anniversary year is defined by the biggest product launch programme in the brand’s history. It started with the world premiere of the new S-Class on January 29, 2026.
The S-Class has been extensively updated and refined in every detail. Over the next two years, Mercedes-Benz will launch more than 40 new models that blend tradition with innovation and set new standards across all segments.
Every model embodies the brand’s promise: to build the world’s most desirable cars. Today’s Mercedes-Benz innovations carry heritage into the future – as a brand that understands progress programmatically, focuses on the needs of people and society and continually redefines individual mobility.
“The love of inventing never ends.” – Carl Benz, 1844 to 1929
“The best or nothing.” – Gottlieb Daimler, 1834 to 1900
Two inventors, one goal – the automobile: in January 1886, Carl Benz applied for a patent for his motor car. Shortly afterwards, Gottlieb Daimler built his motor carriage. Together, the two vehicles formed the first link of an unbroken chain of innovation: Since then, Mercedes-Benz continues to reinvent the automobile.
Influencer with a hat pin: with courage and foresight, Bertha Benz embarked on the world’s first long-distance automobile journey in 1888. She drove from Mannheim to Pforzheim, demonstrating the potential of the automobile.
Today, she would most likely be a mobility influencer. Bertha’s adventure also meant overcoming obstacles along the way. Some of them were tiny – yet with a major impact: she cleaned a blocked carburettor on the road with her hatpin.
A trademark for 100 years: the iconic Mercedes star logo encircled by a laurel wreath is recognised worldwide. It stands for innovative strength and premium quality. The hallmark was created in 1926 when Benz & Cie. from Mannheim merged with Daimler-Motoren-Gesellschaft (DMG) from Stuttgart. The first joint product range premiered at the German Motor Show in Berlin at the end of 1926.
Performance with efficiency: since the 1920s, the supercharger has been extracting more power from the engines of Mercedes-Benz cars, making models like the S-series (W 06) world-famous from 1927 onwards. Throughout the brand’s long history of innovation, numerous vehicles have redefined drive technology – for performance and efficiency. A revolutionary drive concept with three axial-flow motors will make its series debut in 2026 in the new electric Mercedes-AMG GT 4-door Coupé based on the AMG.EA high-performance architecture.
Crash safety: energy-absorbing crumple zones at the front and rear, with a rigid passenger cell in between define the safety body invented by Béla Barényi. This milestone in passive safety made its debut in 1959 in the “Fintail” saloons (W 111). In the same year, Mercedes-Benz began systematic crash testing. Safety is a core value of Mercedes-Benz. Active driver assistance systems such as the MB.DRIVE ASSIST can help prevent many accidents today.
Safety – with kind regards: since 1978, the abbreviation ABS has stood for innovative active safety thanks to the Anti-lock Braking System. It made its debut in the S-Class. Mercedes-Benz continues to develop such systems and safety solutions that shape the entire industry. ESP® is another example, the Electronic Stability Programme from 1995. MB.DRIVE driver assistance technologies are now carrying this tradition into the future. With kind regards from Sindelfingen and Stuttgart.
Perfection through endurance testing: new vehicles must prove themselves before they are delivered to customers as series models. Since 2015, Mercedes-Benz has been testing future models over millions of kilometres at the Immendingen Test and Technology Centre. Around 80 per cent of all test drives take place there. In 1928, the young Mercedes-Benz brand went to the then also young Nürburgring for testing, subjecting the new luxury model Type 460 (W 08) with an eight-cylinder engine to the highest levels of stress. For 13 days, it was driven relentlessly around the circuit, covering 20,000 kilometres in the end – and passing the endurance test. As a mark of distinction, the model was given the additional name “Nürburg”.
The following overview lists important anniversaries for 2026:
● 23 January 1951 (75 years ago): Patent application for the safety body by Béla Barényi. The series premiere was in the W 111 “tail fin” saloons in 1959.
● 27 January 1976 (50 years ago): Presentation of Mercedes-Benz model series 123. The Estate and Coupé completed the portfolio soon afterwards.
● 29 January 1886 (140 years ago): Carl Benz applied for a patent for his three-wheeled “vehicle with gas-engine drive” – the birth of the automobile.
● 3 to 8 February 1986 (40 years ago): Mercedes-Benz presented the ASR and ASD assistance systems as well as the 4MATIC all-wheel-drive system in Finland.
● 8 March 1886 (140 years ago): Gottlieb Daimler ordered a carriage. The first four-wheeled automobile, with its high-speed combustion engine, was built on this basis.
● 25 to 29 March 1901 (125 years ago): The Mercedes 35 PS dominated the Nice Week. “We have entered the Mercedes era,” summarised the Secretary General of the Automobile Club of France.
● 19 to 29 April 1951 (75 years ago): International Motor Show (IAA) premiere of the prestigious Mercedes-Benz 300 (W 186) and the Mercedes-Benz 220 (W 187) – the precursor to the S-Class.
● 19 May 2006 (20 years ago): Opening of the Mercedes-Benz Museum at the gates of the Untertürkheim plant – a brand fixture that has enjoyed enormous international popularity ever since.
● 25 April to 5 May 1996 (30 years ago): The Mercedes-Benz SLK (R 170) made its debut at the Turin Motor Show. With its steel vario-roof, the Roadster opened up a new market segment.
● 12 to 15 June 1976 (50 years ago): The C 111-II D achieved three world records and 16 class records in Nardò – where the Concept AMG GT XX also became a world record holder in 2025.
● 28/29 June 1926 (100 years ago): Benz & Cie. and Daimler-Motoren-Gesellschaft merged to form what was then Daimler-Benz AG. The Mercedes-Benz brand was born.
● 30 June 1996 (30 years ago): A Mercedes-Benz C 36 AMG was the brand’s first official Safety Car in Formula 1 at Magny-Cours. Since then, Mercedes-Benz has provided this important vehicle without interruption.
● 31 July 2001 (25 years ago): The Mercedes-Benz SL of model series R 230 celebrated its premiere at Deichtorhallen Hamburg. The Roadster was equipped with numerous innovations.
● 18 August 1896 (130 years ago): Gottlieb Daimler presented the world’s first motorised truck. He sold the first example to the British Motor Syndicate in London.
● 24 August 1986 (40 years ago): The Sauber-Mercedes C8 Group C racing car achieved its first victory at the Nürburgring. It gave the brand impetus for its return to motorsport.
● 12 September 1926 (100 years ago): In the Solitude race, race director Alfred Neubauer used his signalling system to communicate with the drivers for the first time.
● 4 to 14 October 1951 (75 years ago): The sporty and luxurious 300 S (W 188) was presented at the Paris Motor Show as a two-door version of Type 300 (W 186) as a Coupé, Cabriolet A and Roadster. It was the fastest German production car.
● 9 October 1946 (80 years ago): Testing of the Unimog prototype begins. Former Daimler-Benz AG engineers develop the “Universal Motorized Device for Agriculture”. The Unimog was initially built by Boehringer starting in 1949, and from 1951 onwards at the Mercedes-Benz Gaggenau plant.
● 15 October 2006 (20 years ago): Bernd Schneider secured his fifth DTM championship in the DTM race at Le Mans. This makes the current brand ambassador the record champion.
● 5 December 1896 (130 years ago): Benz & Cie. supplied a “delivery vehicle” – the world’s first van. The “Velociped” was also available with a load compartment.
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