The iconic three-pointed star of the Mercedes-Benz emblem dates back to the beginning of the last century. We got to know the origins and meaning of one of the oldest logos in the automotive industry.
Gottlieb Daimler and Karl Benz
In the mid-1880s, the Germans Gottlieb Daimler and Karl Benz - still separated - laid the foundations for modern automobiles with the development of the first combustion engines for this type of vehicle. In October 1883, Karl Benz founded Benz & Co., while Gottlieb Daimler founded Daimler-Motoren-Gesellschaft (DMG) seven years later in Cannstatt, southern Germany.In the transition to the new century, Karl Benz and Gollieb Daimler joined forces and DMG models appeared for the first time as “Mercedes” vehicles.
The choice of the name Mercedes, a Spanish female name, is due to the fact that this is the name of the daughter of Emil Jellinek, a wealthy Austrian businessman who distributed Daimler cars and engines. The name was found, but… what about the logo?
Logo
Initially, a symbol with the brand name was used (image below) — the iconic star was only debuted a few years later.
Early in his career, Gottlieb Daimler drew a three-pointed star on a photograph on his Cologne estate. Daimler promised his mate that this star would one day rise gloriously over his home. As such, his sons proposed the adoption of this same three-pointed star, which in June 1909 was used as an emblem on the front of vehicles, above the radiator.
The star also represented the brand's dominance in “land, water and air”.
Over the years, the emblem has undergone a series of modifications.
In 1916, an outer circle was inserted around the star and the word Mercedes. Ten years later, in the midst of the post-World War I era, DMG and Benz & Co came together to found Daimler Benz AG. In a period affected by inflation in Europe, the German car industry suffered greatly from the effects of reduced sales, but the creation of a joint venture helped to maintain the brand's competitiveness in the sector. This merger forced the emblem to be slightly redesigned.
In 1933 the logo was changed again, but it kept the elements that have lasted until today. The three-dimensional emblem was replaced by a symbol placed over the radiator, which in recent years has gained greater dimensions and a new prominence at the front of the models of the Stuttgart brand.
Mercedes Benz S-Class 2018
Simple and elegant, the three-pointed star has become synonymous with quality and safety. A history with more than 100 years that seems to be effectively protected by a… lucky star.