What is the relationship between Mercedes-Benz and Daimler?
2 Answers
Currently, Daimler AG is the parent company of Mercedes-Benz, which includes four major business units: Mercedes-Benz Cars, Mercedes-Benz Vans, Daimler Trucks, and Daimler Financial Services. Initially, Daimler and Benz were two completely independent and competing companies. In 1886, Gottlieb Daimler established Daimler-Motoren-Gesellschaft in Germany, producing Daimler automobiles and engines, marking the beginning of the German automotive industry. At the same time, Karl Benz also established his own automobile factory in Germany, producing Benz cars and engines. In 1926, the two companies merged and were named Daimler-Benz AG, commonly referred to as Mercedes-Benz in Chinese. Daimler-Benz is the parent company of Mercedes-Benz, essentially a holding company. Besides Mercedes-Benz, Daimler-Benz also includes automotive parts manufacturers, financial services companies, and automotive repair and sales businesses. In 1998, Daimler-Benz merged with the American Chrysler Corporation to form DaimlerChrysler AG, with brands including: Mercedes-Benz, Chrysler, Smart, Dodge, Jeep, Maybach, Freightliner, Sterling, Western Star, Setra, Mitsubishi Fuso, Thomas Built Buses, Orion, and more. Simply put, Daimler is the company's name, originally Daimler AG. Today, Daimler is possibly the most diversified automobile manufacturer, producing trucks, buses, passenger cars, off-road vehicles, and special vehicles, among which the passenger car brand is named Mercedes-Benz.
I worked at an automobile museum and found the relationship between Mercedes-Benz and Daimler quite fascinating. Simply put, Mercedes-Benz is a brand under Daimler, but they originated differently: Karl Benz invented the first automobile, while Gottlieb Daimler developed the engine, with each founding their own companies. In 1926, they merged to form Daimler-Benz AG, sharing technology and resources—for instance, the iconic Mercedes-Benz S-Class integrates designs from both sides. Later, the company underwent changes, such as the 1998 merger with Chrysler and subsequent separation. Today, the brand is renamed Mercedes-Benz Group, with Daimler remaining the parent company. This relationship is like father and son—Daimler provides the platform, while Mercedes-Benz shines. I think this history is worth exploring to better understand the evolution of luxury cars.