CEO Reveals The Origin Of The Iconic Name ‘Mercedes-Benz’

The story behind the iconic name ‘Mercedes-Benz’ was recently shared in a viral social media clip. Mercedes-Benz CEO Sten Ola Kallenius revealed to American lawyer and businessman David Rubenstein that the company was originally named Daimler when founded in 1886 by Gottlieb Daimler and chief engineer Wilhelm Maybach.

Fifteen years later, Austrian industrialist Emil Jellinek, aiming to win a race in Nice, France, commissioned Daimler and Maybach to design an engine, leading to the brand’s iconic name.

Daimler and Maybach successfully fulfilled Jellinek’s request by providing a vehicle with a powerful engine. Jellinek won the race and stipulated that the car be named after his daughter, ‘Mercedes.’

Daimler adopted the name ‘Mercedes’ for the car, although the company retained its original name. According to Kallenius, the choice was driven by Daimler’s personal liking for the name, which ultimately became a key part of the globally recognized brand, Mercedes-Benz.

According to Mercedes-Benz’s website, ‘Mercedes’ was registered as a brand name on June 23, 1902, and legally protected on September 26. In June 1903, Emil Jellinek received permission to use the name Jellinek-Mercedes, noting it as the first instance of a father adopting his daughter’s name.

By 1907, Jellinek was appointed Austro-Hungarian Consul General and later became the Mexican Consul. He withdrew from the automotive industry in 1909 to focus on his consular duties in Monaco, remaining an avid follower of automotive engineering until his death on January 21, 1918.