In December 1900, Daimler-Motoren-Gesellschaft (DMG) supplied customer Emil Jellinek with the world's first Mercedes-brand motor vehicle (named after Jellinek's daughter, Mercédes). From the earliest beginnings, Mercedes-Benz vehicles have set standards - in quality, in technology and in luxury. Today, Mercedes is one of the world's most successful premium-quality automotive brand, with some 6.4 million customers owning about 9.5 million Mercedes-Benz passenger cars.

In 1900, the annual production of DMG was just 96 vehicles, built almost completely by hand by a workforce of 344 people. In 1913, assembly lines paved the way for volume production at lower costs and, since Jellinek's first order in 1900, Mercedes-Benz has built a total of 19 million passenger vehicles, and in 1999, for the first time sold over a million passenger cars in one year.

Erich Jellinek, Mercedes Jellinek

Innovation has also long been a catchword at Mercedes-Benz; the company has always been on the cutting edge of technological advances in the creation of safer, cleaner and more efficient vehicles. Mercedes-Benz was the driving force behind innovations such as the anti-lock braking system (ABS), the airbag, active suspension and ceramic brakes - innovations that have saved countless lives.

Every Mercedes-Benz reflects the distinctive design philosophy of the brand. A glance at the current S-Class, E-Class, C-Class, SLK, CLK or A-Class is enough to confirm that the name Mercedes-Benz not only stands for top-flight engineering across all vehicle classes but also for the highest design quality. Today the company offers some 122 different passenger car model versions to suit virtually every driver's needs and the Mercedes-Benz vehicle remains a world-class symbol of top-quality engineering, comprising unbeatable luxury, outstanding technological innovation - and sheer pleasure to drive.

As the world's largest commercial vehicle manufacturer, DaimlerChrysler has a wide portfolio of commercial vehicles including its Mercedes-Benz lines of trucks, vans, buses and special vehicles.

On March 18, 1895, the first engine-driven bus in the world, built by Carl Benz, begins operating on the 15-kilometre-long route from Netphen-Deuz to Siegen. In 1896, Gottlieb Daimler makes it plain that engine power can also be used for goods transportation whereby he introduces the first engine-driven flatbed truck in the world. In 1897, the Daimler-Motoren-Gesellschaft introduces a "business van" model series for payloads of 500 to 2000 kg.

Mercedes-Benz vans have been the market leader in Western Europe since 1997, and sales figures continue to rise. And the premium brand Mercedes-Benz also takes the lead for trucks over 6 tons in Western Europe and the key latin American markets of Braizil and Argentina.

Under the catchword "System Transport", Mercedes-Benz is taking an important step towards a comprehensive solution provider in the commercial vehicle sector, with emphasis on being a customer-focused, sector-specific, and cross-range manufacturer.

Copyright: Hua De Feng Ying Co.Ltd.

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