The company now known as Mercedes-Benz has been through several transitions in its long history. Its roots can be traced back as far as 1871 and the establishment of Benz & Cie. The company it would eventually merge with - Daimler Motor Company -was founded in 1890 and both independently played a significant role in the invention of the internal combustion engine.

The 1926 merger of the two companies created Daimler-Benz and the Mercedes-Benz name was given to its automotive branch. The brand came to be known as a producer of some of the world’s most luxurious vehicles, while in recent times the addition of the A-Class to the range has meant there is an affordable option. In 1998 Daimler-Benz merged with American manufacturer Chrysler to create DaimlerChrysler, which controls several different brands.

Mercedes has a history of success in motor sports, though it is best known now for its participation in Formula One as the brand returned to the sport in 1993 after a 38 year absence. Mercedes’ first victory came in 1997 after siding with McLaren and the team won the Constructors’ Championship the following year. More recently, Team McLaren Mercedes narrowly missed out on their second title on the final day of the 2005 season.

Production of Mercedes vehicles takes place not only in its native Germany but also in seven other countries around the world. The range is not just limited to cars, as the brand is well known for its trucks, vans and buses - the latter produced under EvoBus as Europe’s leading supplier.

Some of the innovations in safety and engineering made by Mercedes-Benz are considered to have been amongst the most important in the industry, including the development of a safety cage with crumple zones and the introduction of an anti-lock braking system.

EuroNCAP Safety Ratings for Mercedes Benz cars
The European New Car Assessment Programme produces reports on the safety of vehicles based on the results of several crash tests. As well as measuring how the car will hold up in a crash the risk to a pedestrian struck by the car is assessed. The star ratings (maximum 5) of key Mercedes Benz models are shown below.