Mercedes-Benz is a German manufacturer of automobiles, buses, coaches, and trucks. It is currently a division of the parent company, Daimler AG (formerly DaimlerChrysler AG), after previously being owned by Daimler-Benz. Mercedes-Benz has its origins in Karl Benz's creation of the first automobile in January 1886, followed by Gottlieb Daimler and engineer Wilhelm Maybach's original Mercedes automobile in 1901. The first Mercedes-Benz brand name vehicles were produced in 1926, following the merger of Karl Benz's and Gottlieb Daimler's companies into the Daimler-Benz company.

Since its inception, Mercedes-Benz had a reputation for its quality and durability. Throughout its long history, the company has been involved in a range of motorsport activities, including sports car racing and rallying. Besides its native Germany, Mercedes-Benz vehicles are also manufactured or assembled in 21 countries.

Numerous technological innovations have been introduced on Mercedes-Benz automobiles throughout the many years of their production, that have become common in other vehicles, including: the internal combustion automobile was developed independently by Benz and Daimler & Maybach in 1886; Daimler invented the honeycomb radiator of the type still used on all water-cooled vehicles today; Daimler invented the float carburetor which was used until replaced by fuel injection; The first passenger road car to have brakes on all four wheels (1924); The "Safety cage" or "Safety cell" construction with front and rear crumple zones; many contemporary systems which rais the safety of the car like Traction control system, Stability control, brake assist; Pre-Safe, adaptive highbeam assist system etc..

Half a century of vehicle safety innovation helped win Mercedes- Benz the Safety Award at the 2007 What Car? Awards.

The Mercedes Benz logo was originally created by Gottlieb Daimler and was featured in 1909. The Mercedes Benz logo consists of a simple depiction of a three-pointed star that represents ‘its domination of the land, the sea, and the air’. After Daimler’s death, his partner, Wilhelm Maybach, took over the company and sold many Daimler cars with the help of Emile Jellinek. Jellinek suggested Maybach to create light, lower and more powerful cars which he named after his elder daughter, Mercedes. That’s how the Mercedes logo got its name. After the merger with Benz & Cie., the Mercedes logo was introduced with an addition of the Benz laurel wreath in 1926 to signify the union of the two firms.