A passion for excellence with over a century of Engineering leadership
At various stages in history, man has been subject to many revolutions mooted by a few who dared to think differently and more importantly with a vision. Therefore, it is no surprise that it was one cold January morning in 1886 that stands in history as having transformed the way mankind would travel in future.
Carl Benz, son of an engineer from Karlsruhe, Germany, was awarded patent for his 3-wheeled motor carriage mounted with the first 4-stroke engine. Over the years, it evolved into a marquee that incorporated the finest features born out of a 'Tradition of Excellence'. It became not just a different vehicle, but a different 'School of Thought'.
At about the same time another visionary was busy adding the final touches to his own version of a motorcar. Gottlieb Daimler went on to create the world’s first Truck in 1896. The first Bus followed soon. Daimler’s cars were often seen at various races in Europe and were clearly setting the benchmark for performance.
Gottlieb Daimler’s Works Engineer, Wilhelm Maybach was making his own mark by building engines that would power the famous ‘Maybach’ brand.
It is but now famous enough that the Austrian businessman Emil Jellinek was mightily impressed by the performance of Daimler’s cars that he offered to do business with Daimler’s vehicles on the condition that the cars be named after his daughter ‘Mercedes’. Thus a living legend received its timeless name and appeal.
The initial years of the past century witnessed the designers and engineers at Mercedes-Benz embarking on a visionary attitude, placing at the centre of all their activities, the 'Human Being'. This set the trend for the following years that were filled with hard toil and research, that would produce automobiles to stand the test of time and people.
Pre-war years focussed on powerful machines but the post-war era set the trend for more scientific research in making these powerful machines deliver refined aggression, comfort, safety and reliability. Mercedes-Benz set the tradition of path-breaking innovations from which the automobile world in general stood to benefit. It would therefore not be wrong to state that "We make all cars safer".
Over time, Daimler has set the world of automobiles sizzling with its performance. Many an ode has been written to this brand. The second half of the last century saw Daimler expanding its reach in terms of markets and brands. Truck brands such as the Freightliner & Western Star from the USA, FUSO from Japan became part of the widening Daimler family.
India was not to be left alone and Daimler made its first entry into the country in 1950. In 1954, in collaboration with an Indian partner, Daimler introduced India to the first heavy-duty truck, the ‘TATA Mercedes-Benz’. The genes of trucking were well sowed and have remained at the heart of Indian trucking, ever since.
All in all Daimler AG can truly lay claim to the title ‘the first family of the automotive world’. To meander through the interesting road that Daimler has treaded and to enjoy the travails that have led to what Daimler is today, enter the web-world of Daimler AG………….
