Karl Benz patents the Benz Patent-Motorwagen, generally regarded as the first true automobile.
Bertha Benz undertakes the first long-distance drive with her husband's car, which was crucial for public acceptance.
Gottlieb Daimler and Wilhelm Maybach establish their own automobile company in Cannstatt.
The name 'Mercedes' is used for a car for the first time, named after the daughter of businessman Emil Jellinek.
Daimler-Motoren-Gesellschaft and Benz & Cie. merge into Daimler-Benz AG, giving rise to the Mercedes-Benz brand name.
Mercedes-Benz presents the iconic 300 SL with its striking upward-opening gullwing doors.
Mercedes-Benz patents the crumple zone, a fundamental breakthrough in car safety.
Mercedes-Benz introduces the EQC, the first fully electric model in the new EQ product line.
The company presents a strategy to sell only electric vehicles from 2030 onward, where market conditions allow.
Future outlook: Mercedes-Benz becomes a leading brand in fully autonomous, climate-neutral luxury vehicles with integrated AI systems.
Engineer Béla Barényi developed the concept of the crumple zone, in which parts of the body were deliberately made deformable to absorb energy in a collision and thus protect the passengers. This innovation changed the automotive industry worldwide and is still applied in modern vehicles.