Mercedes-Benz Museum: a sanctuary to design
A Mercedes rules the road with its power. The Mercedes-Benz Museum in Germany emulates power and amplifies innovation. When traveling to the Stuttgart area, spend the day at the sanctuary to design.
Stuttgart is the transport capital of Germany and is home to the headquarters of Daimler, Porsche and Maybach. Here the prototype of the Volkswagen Beetle was built. Stuttgart pioneered the light rail or trams in Germany.
A local genius, Karl Benz, invented the first oil-powered automobile. Benz was the co-owner of an iron foundry. He began to play with the engines for additional income. His 1879 patent for a two-stroke engine led to the creation of Benz & Company. Benz toyed with the idea of combining petroleum-powered vehicles and engines. In 1883, he received the patent for the gas car. Benz and Company launched a line of cars and never looked back.
Through the town Gottlieb Daimler and your partner, Wilhelm maybachThey were creating a number of firsts, including a high-speed oil engine; a four-wheeled car; and a gasoline motorcycle. In 1890, Daimler and Maybach formed Daimler Motoren Gesellschaft. After years of success, Daimler fell ill and died at the age of 62. Maybach left to start his own company. DMG management approached Karl Benz and the two companies were merged into Daimler-Benz, now Daimler AG. The Mercedes-Benz Museum tells its story.
The eight-story museum appears to have been sculpted by Thor from circular steel, concrete, and glass. The shape of each floor is the symbol of the Mercedes three-point star, showing a part of the past, present and future. For example, the second floor is about historic and current Mercedes trucks. Other levels focus on the Mercedes-Benz legends; celebrity cars; sustainability technology; and future visions.
Racing is the lifeblood of the company and the seventh floor is the most fun. From the beginning, Daimler understood the importance of the Grand Prix and other road races to its innovation and brand building. Racing played a key role in lifting Mercedes from the rubble of WWII. As a producer of vehicles for the German army, the Allied bombers pulverized Daimler and Stuttgart. Auto racing emerged as a major postwar sport. The presence and victories of Mercedes-Benz accelerated sales around the world.
Stuttgart is a great stop on a German itinerary with other museums and some great castles, like the spectacular Schloss Hohenzollern. The centerpiece is the Mercedes-Benz Museum. After a visit, you will give more respect to the Mercedes that just blew up its doors on the freeway. Racing is in its DNA.