Germany has produced relatively few types of cars. The number had been reduced even further since the Second World War as contact between manufacturers in East Germany and those in the West has gradually diminished. There is one unusual feature of this industry’s history and that is the outstanding success of Mercedes or Daimler Benz.
In 1890 Gottlieb Daimler and William Maybach Gesellschaft in Cannstatt and granted manufacturing licences to Panhard and Levassor and Peugeot in France. Gottlieb Daimler died in 1900 and was succeeded by his son, Paul. It was at this point that Emil Jellinek, the firm’s agent in Western Europe and America, commissioned a number of cars from Daimler provide that they bore his daughter’s name; Mercedes. From then on all passenger cars produced by the firm bore the name. In 1926 Daimler merged with Benz and the company name became Daimler-Benz; but the name Mercedes continued to be used for the cars.
Throughout its existence Mercedes has always been distinguished by the great variety of its products.
The company that was responsible for the advent of the car in Germany was Opel. Opel has always principally catered to the lower levels of the market. It was founded in 1862 by Adam Opel for the manufacture of sewing machines, then bicycles in 1886 and cars in 1898.