Brand story - Mercedes Benz

As a marketer I'm fascinated by stories told by brands about thier heritage. 

MERCEDES BENZ 

Do you know How Mercedes Benz got its name? How they got thier 3 pointed star logo? And how the man who invented the automobile (Karl Benz) is their founder? And how it took a gutsy woman (Bertha Benz), to promote the automobile to the masses? And do you know Mercedes, is named after the daughter of entrepreneur called Emil Jellineck?

Karl Benz is widely regarded as "the father of the car", as well as the "father of the automobile industry". His Benz Patent-Motorwagen from 1885 is considered the first practical modern automobile and first car put into series production. He received a patent for the motorcar in 1886, the same year he first publicly drove the Benz Patent-Motorwagen. He was a prolific inventor. While designing what would become the production standard for his two-stroke engine, Benz patented the speed regulation system, the ignition using sparks with battery, the spark plug, the carburetor, the clutch, the gear shift, and the water radiator. His inventions are used by the auto industry in some form even after 120 years.  His wife is Bertha Benz. She invested her dowry in her struggling husbands company and became a partner in Benz company. 

There was another company called Daimler which was a competitor to Benz company. There was a race car buff and an entrepreneur called Emil Jellineck who commissioned Daimler to build racing cars. He wanted the racing cars to be named after his newborn first daughter Mercedes, who he thought bought him luck. Daimler patented the 3 star logo now used in all Mercedes Benz cars and trucks. It symbolises the use of Daimler engines in 3 places, land, at sea and in the air. 

In 1918 when World War 1 ended and Germany lost the war, both companies Daimler and Benz who competed with each other for over 20 years lost money.  They merged to save costs and became Daimler-Benz company. Their most successful car was called Mercedes. Later company was renamed from Daimler Benz to Mercedes Benz.

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Karl Benz was not sure if his prototype car was ready for the masses. As a caring husband, he never let his wife drive the car worried for her safety. However, Bertha Benz, wanted to prove it was ready for the masses. And with good intention of showcasing her husband's invention drove his car over a long distance to her parents' place. She was the first woman to drive the car, her husband's Karl Benz's invention to her Dad's place with her two sons without the knowledge of her husband. Bertha Benz is a true hero. Bertha Benz was a pioneer engineer, marketer, investor and biggest support to her husband Karl Benz, considered the father of automobile industry. We owe a lot to this couple.  Please see the 4 min video below you will understand it. (Copy and paste link in your browser)

https://youtu.be/vsGrFYD5Nfs?si=qbVxCbV6jcQNd0Dv

I have never owned a mercedes benz car. But I have a good friend who has been driving a mercedes benz for almost 4 years now. But he did not know many things i knew on the brand, so I wrote this piece for him, he loved it. Thought you will like it too. 

I admire mercedes benz, as a mechanical engineer for their innovations. But admire them even more as a marketer, for successfully creating one of the most powerful brands in the world. This advertising is almost movie like. A master piece in narrative and story telling. Superb work. Enjoy.

If you liked it, leave a comment. Even one word is fine.

https://nashtupil.blogspot.com/2024/10/brand-story-mercedes-benz.html?m=1

Karl and Bertha Benz 1900

Karl and Bertha Benz TV movie 2011