Home Articles Mercedes-Benz Innovation

Mercedes-Benz Innovation

In the early 1920s, a small German business, the Daimler Motor Company, opened its doors to the public by exhibiting previous and current models of motorcars. In 2007, the same company has turned into a global empire, which has helped to position Germany as one of the top global exporters of goods in 2006. Two of the major brand names helping Germany stake its claim to be a leading exporting nation are Mercedes-Benz and Braun. The tradition of showcasing its products is still a strong component of the Mercedes-Benz culture. However, the small factory museum has transformed into a nine level, 16.500 square meter example of sophisticated, modern architecture. Since it’s inception in the late 19th century, Mercedes-Benz has shaped the automobile industry, nationally and internationally. Gottlieb Daimler and business partner Wilhelm Maybach invented the first four-stroke engine, which provided the foundation for today’s automobile. Karl Benz produced the first ‘real’ car, a motor vehicle, which he built himself. However, the economic situation in Germany after the First World War caused a challenge for many young companies. Inflation, high taxes and general unemployment left business owners fighting for customers. Although many companies broke under the pressure, it also inspired great innovation, efficiency and product excellence. These trademarks have remained associated with the German industry. Mercedes-Benz was founded as a merger between Karl Benz’s company and Gottlieb Daimler and Wilhelm Maybach’s “Daimler Motoren Gesellschaft” (DMG), in 1926. Another company which emerged during the economic crisis was Braun. Max Braun, an engineer in Frankfurt, started the business in 1921. Braun reached international fame through the production of radio and record players with new materials such as plastic. The Second World War presented a new test to businesses, leaving the country weakened to its core. Nevertheless, the Marshall Plan, an American aid program for Europe, caused a boom in the industry and the living standards of the population of Western Germany. In 1951,Mercedes-Benz released the Mercedes-Benz 300, which was famously driven by Western Germany’s first Chancellor Konrad Adenauer. In the same year, Braun also marketed its first electric razor, a product hugely popular with the new consumer society. Like many other German companies, Mercedes-Benz and Braun gained popularity through technological expertise, functionality, practicality and a sleek, understated design; values which still come to mind in connection with German products today. But those are not the only qualities, which make German products special: Mercedes-Benz offers a certain feeling of luxury to their customer, by producing goods, which are reliable and sustainable today and in the future. Most importantly however, as the market leader in all matters of safety and safety research, Mercedes-Benz has greatly influenced the general standard of safety in vehicles. In the late 1970s for example, it was Mercedes-Benz, who pioneered the Anti-lock braking system (ABS). Braun on the other hand is well known for affordable quality. An emphasis on consumer and product research has enabled the company to merge creative design ideas with functionality and quality. This explains why Braun has been the market leader in dry shavers since 1950 and has also been mentioned in the publication “German Standards 2007”, which features notable German companies. The attributes summing up German technology are quality, research and innovation. These also perfectly describe the newly built Mercedes-Benz Museum in Stuttgart (incidentally, it is located in Mercedes Street), Germany, which opened in 2006. More than 180 automobiles, among them racing and record cars, provide the visitor with a detailed insight into the history of Mercedes-Benz vehicles as well as the history of cars in general. Looking at the unique, cloverleaf inspired building today, it seems hard to believe it all began with a couple of passionate inventors dreaming about a motor vehicle more than one hundred years ago. Mercedes-Benz, as well as other German technology companies such as Braun, are inspiring examples on how the vision and determination of a few great leaders can transform a small privately owned company into an internationally acclaimed empire. For more information on any Mercedes-Benz models visit : Mercedes-Benz of Sydney For more information on any Braun Products visit : www.braun.com