Mercedes Benz
When I arrived at Neckarplatz Station home of
Mercedes-Benz, I honestly thought I was lost. The directions I looked up prior
described being able to easily navigate to the museum complex from the station
on one’s own. Yet, here I was staring at a highway and a bunch of roads
wondering if I had gone the wrong way. So I trusted the directions and burned
through a little of my international mobile data (sorry Dad) to find the museum
was a couple minute walk in front of where I was standing and just behind the
highway. Around a corner and down a few streets I came to see a beautiful,
cylindrical shaped building, the Mercedes-Benz Museum.
Once inside,
I checked my bag, picked up reserved voucher, and began my adventure through
the legacy of the company. Every visitor was given a complimentary audio guide
and map. The museum was one of the most impressive sights I visited thus far on
my Magellan. Over 125 years of history was displayed through over 1,500 exhibits
and 160 different vehicles. The self guided tour began at the top floor which
was accessed through three main elevators positioned near the entrance. Every
elevator had a project attached on top which displayed historical images and
videos on the opposing walls as it rose through the building. The floors were
laid out by time periods and featured two separate areas. Each floor had started
with various exhibits and feats of technology arranged chronologically. Then,
off to the side before the stairs was a room highlighting a specific type of
automobile. For example, one of the floors had a room dedicated entirely to
service vehicles created by Mercedes-Benz while the next floor had a display of
vehicles driven or owned by public figures such as the Pope. These “collection”
rooms and “legend” rooms (historical rooms) were set side by side.
The beginning of the museum started
with the beginning of the automobile in the invention of the engine. Deutz
Viertak created a four-stroke internal combustion engine in 1880 which is
considered to be the first of its kind. However, this was much too large and
cumbersome to be useful for transportation. The feat which followed was
Zweikoft Gas Motor created by Mr. Karl Benz in 1882. Gottlieb Daimler created
the first engine capable of being used in an automobile in 1886. Those two men
and their stories are interwoven in history. Eventually their companies joined to
create Mercedes-Benz. Daimler’s engine known as the “Grandfather Clock Engine”
was produced in 1885 and became the first practically used automobile engine.
Daimler focused fitting his creation to various other transportation vehicles
such as trains and boats. During this time, Benz patented the first chassis and
engine design (as opposed to an independent engine built into a cart). On
January 29th, 1886 the first automobile patent was awarded. Just 7
years later the first 4 wheeled automobile was created. The following years
were critical for automobile as colonialism spurred industrialization. A
transition from agricultural to industrial increased the necessity of easy
transportation as well as the means necessary for mass production. This led to
the creation and success of two competing companies founded by Karl Benz and
Gottlieb Daimler in Benz and CIE and Daimler Motoren Gesellschaft (DMG)
respectfully. DMG made the name Mercedes popular when a wealthy business owner
requested Wilhelm Maybach, an engineer of DMG, created a powerful new car with
the name of his daughter, Mercedes. The car was such a huge success that the
name stuck.
In 1923, hyper inflation from the
crisis after WWI paralyzed the industry. The inflation was out of hand. In just
a 5 month period, an item which had previously cost 1,500 marks was priced at
240 billion marks. The German Automobile industry was fighting for its life. In
a strategic decision, investors of DMG and Benz joined in 1924. Two years later
their companies officially merged to become Mercedes Benz. However, during this
time manufacturers were not allowed to produce cars or marine engines due to
restrictions from the allies of WWI. Instead, the company produced items such
as bicycles and typewriters to stay afloat from bankruptcy. Then in the
following decade, the automobile industry experienced the largest upswing in
its history with the rise of Adolf Hitler. New highways and a new arms build-up
required more commercial and military vehicles. Business soared. The downside
of this revitalization came with the restriction of private companies by the
Third Reich. By the end of the 1930’s, nearly 2/3rds of Mercedes-Benz revenue
came from government contracts. Complete control of the company was given to
the state during the total war economy of WWII.
During the war, the factories became
a key target for allied bombings. Nearly 80% of all buildings were destroyed at
the Stuttgart plant. An American officer spoke about the sight saying “They
will never build anything here again.” After the war, the company almost seized
to exist. The Russians took control of all plants in Western Germany. The
company survived by repairing jeeps and other allied vehicles as their main
source of revenue. What truly saved them was aid from the Marshall plan and the
founding of the new Republic of Germany. Mercedes-Benz became the official
automobile of the new Republic. The popularity of the car soared. Orders and
revenue came pouring in. Mew plants were built across the world in Argentina,
Brazil, and India in the early 1950s. Success soon followed as the cars
outperformed rivals. Mercedes returned to the Grand Prix in 1952 and took the
title. The rise of the Germany economy created a new middle class who could
afford cars. Mass production soon followed. A new age of comfort, luxury, and
design formed with the founding of an upper-middle class. For the first time in
1960, privately owned cars outnumbered company cars on Germany roadways.
The reputation and popularity of the brand only
continued to grow from here. Today, the car is considered one of the top luxury
brands. Around the world the three pointed star surrounded in a laurel wreath
is recognizable. As consumers produced new demands for innovation, Mercedes-Benz
answered in their products. From nation to nation, the cars continue to
dominate sales of the upper and middle class. The reason for their success is
many fold, but includes their ability to consistently provide more advanced
cars. To further investigate this topic, I set up an interview with a member of
Mercedes-Benz’ elite high performance division, AMG.
