Gottlieb Daimler and Carl Benz were born only 60 miles apart in southern Germany. Daimler was born March 17, 1834. A decade later,  on November 25, Carl Benz was born.

Although they grew up with little in common, both boys were fascinated by machines from an early age. Because their approach to building cars was quite different, it is doubtful, though, that they met or even knew what the other was doing.

In 1886, Carl Benz built a motorized tricycle. His first four-wheeler, the Victoria, was built in 1893. The first production car was the 1894 Benz Velo which participated in the first recorded car race, the Paris-Rouen race. In 1895, Benz built his first truck.

Aware of the promotional potential of racing, both Daimler and Benz entered many of them. However, up until 1908, Daimler had overshadowed Benz in racing endeavors. At the 1908 French Grand Prix, Benz took second and third place behind Lautenschlager driving a Mercedes. From that point on, both Benz and Daimler did well in racing.

At the beginning of the first world war, both factories were converted into production sites for war materials, although both resumed producing cars after the war.

Social unrest and a falling economy characterized post-war Germany. Little or no fuel for cars and a 15% luxury tax made automobile production increasingly disastrous. This market sent Benz and Cie. seeking a strong partner. The only one the board considered worthyof Benz and Cie was DMG.

Thus, in 1919, Karl Jahn, a Benz board member since 1910, approached Daimler-Motoren-Gesellschat about a possible merger. The merger attempt looked promising, then was abandoned in December of 1919.

The German economy continued to worse and a new Benz automobile eventually cost 25 million marks.

In 1924, from sheer economic necessity, Benz and DMG signed an "Agreement of Mutual Interest." Although both companies retained their identities, the agreement was valid until the year 2000. The two companies merged with relative ease on June 28, 1926.

A symbol was chosen for the combined products of DMG and Benz. The new insignia was a three-pointed star wreathed with laurel. The word "Mercedes" was at the top and the word "Benz" was at the bottom.

Then merger did the new company well. Production of Mercedes-Benz rose to 7,918 Mercedes-Benz automobiles in 1927. The Mercedes-Benz diesel truck was put into production in 1927, also.

The first two automobiles to sport the Mercedes-Benz name were the Stuttgart and the Mannheim. Then in 1928 the Mercedes SS was introduced by Mercedes-Benz. This graceful body was made possible by a hood line that barely cleared the engine

Mercedes Benz Type	Production: Years	Length: Inches	Weight: Pounds
Mercedes-Benz 770 Grosser	1930-37	210	6000+
Mercedes-Benz 380K/500K/540K	1933-1939	185-205	4500-5100
Mercedes-Benz 770 Grosser	1938-1940	246	7600-8100
Mercedes-Benz Type 300	1951-1962	195	3860-4400
Mercedes-Benz Type 300S/Sc	1952-1958	186	3600
Mercedes-Benz 300SL	1954-1963	180	2750-3000
Mercedes-Benz 190SL	1955-1963	169	2515
Mercedes-Benz Coupe/Cabriolet	1959-1971	192	3330-3650
Mercedes-Benz Type 600	1963-1980	218-246	5445-5820
Mercedes-Benz 230/250/280SL	1963-1971	169.5	2855-2900
Mercedes-Benz 300SEL 6.3	1967-1972	196.9	4010

With the aim to serve the customers in India with the latest products and technological excellence from the Mercedes-Benz, Daimler Chrysler entered the Indian market and set up Mercedes-Benz India Ltd. way back in 1994. In January 2000, Mercedes-Benz E-Class (W 210), 'Top of the line' E 240 Petrol and E 220 CDI Diesel versions were launched with several advanced technology and mentionable, high end features. It has a long-term commitment to the Indian market and has full support of its parent company for its future plans in India.

C-Class