Mercedes-Benz CEO shares how the car giant got its iconic name. Watch

Mercedes-Benz was founded in officially registered in 1902.

A captivating story about the origins of the iconic brand name Mercedes-Benz has surfaced on social media, revealing a blend of history, personal connections, and pioneering spirit that shaped the automotive giant.

In a viral social media clip, Mercedes-Benz CEO Sten Ola Källenius recounted the fascinating history during an interview with American lawyer and businessman David Rubenstein. Källenius explained that the brand's roots trace back to 1886 when Gottlieb Daimler founded the company, initially known simply as Daimler. At that time, Wilhelm Maybach served as Daimler's chief engineer.

The narrative took a significant turn fifteen years later when Austrian industrialist Emil Jellinek commissioned Daimler and Maybach to design a powerful engine for racing purposes. Jellinek had his sights set on winning a prestigious race in Nice, France, and he entrusted Daimler and Maybach to create a vehicle that could deliver victory.

Daimler and Maybach rose to the challenge, producing a car that propelled Jellinek to triumph in the race. As a testament to their success, Jellinek placed a unique condition on the vehicle: it had to bear the name of his daughter, 'Mercedes'. The name, meaning "grace" in Spanish, resonated deeply with Daimler, who decided to adopt it, thus marking the birth of the 'Mercedes' brand.

"Mercedes-Benz CEO Ola Källenius shares how the name 'Mercedes' came about," reads a tweet from @historyinmemes, alongside the interview clip. According to Källenius, Daimler was fond of the name, and it seamlessly became integral to the globally renowned brand, Mercedes-Benz.

Mercedes-Benz CEO Ola Källenius shares how the name 'Mercedes' came about. pic.twitter.com/h7xh29lYv3

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— Historic Vids (@historyinmemes) June 12, 2024

Jellinek, proud of this legacy, even changed his name to Jellinek-Mercedes in June 1903, noting, "This is probably the first time a father has borne the name of his daughter."

In 1907, Jellinek was appointed the Austro-Hungarian Consul General and later became the Mexican Consul. Though he withdrew from the automotive industry in 1909 to focus on his diplomatic duties in Monaco, Jellinek remained a keen observer of automotive advancements until his death on January 21, 1918.