Born in motorsport: in 1952, Mercedes-Benz achieved great international success with the 300 SL race car (W 194). "SL" – the letters stand for "super light". Since 1954, the legendary SL has lived through series production vehicles, starting with the 300 SL "Gullwing". Every generation continues the unique tradition.

The presentation of the 600 at the Frankfurt International Motor Show Germany in September 1963 was a real sensation. Conceived as an exclusive representative vehicle for the highest demands, the new top-of-the-line model was equipped as standard with technical features that were unique and represented the state of the art at the time.

The four-cylinder models 200 D to 220 were combined in the W 115 model series, while the two six-cylinder models 230 and 250 were assigned the W 114 model series designation. The "new generation” models after their release in 1968 are still commonly referred to as "Stroke 8 models".

With great diversity, in January 1976 the new mid-range generation (W 123) impressed customers who waited up to a year at first for their car due to the high demand. The saloon was followed in 1977 by the coupé, a saloon with a long wheelbase and the first ever factory-built estate.

An event eagerly awaited by the public and the trade press was the presentation of the compact 190 and 190 E saloon models on 8 December 1982. The two models did not replace any previous models, but added a third main line to the traditional Mercedes-Benz passenger car range. The new model range was characterised by more compact dimensions, reduced weight and increased economy, without compromising on driving characteristics, safety and reliability.

The Benz Patent Motor Car is the world's first automobile. Carl Benz designed it in 1885 and filed for a patent on 29 January 1886 under the name "vehicle with gas-engine drive". The patent number 37435, granted by the Imperial Patent Office in Berlin, is the birth certificate of the automobile.

In 1959, Mercedes-Benz introduced an industry-leading innovation – the safety bodyshell. The concept of designer Béla Barényi: crumple zones at the front and rear and a strong passenger compartment in between. The first vehicle was the high-class saloon of the 111 model series, affectionately called the "fintail”.

An engineer's dream came true in 1978: Mercedes-Benz presented the anti-lock braking system in the S-Class of the 116 model series. Even when the brake is fully on, the vehicle remains manoeuvrable and hazardous areas can be bypassed. Further assistance systems could be built based on the ABS sensors.

The world's first production vehicle with a driver's airbag and seat belt tensioner for the driver and the front-seat passenger was the Mercedes-Benz 126 model series S-Class in 1980. In the event of a crash, an airbag unfolds from the steering wheel within milliseconds and forms a padding between the driver and the wheel. It was to complement the seat belt. Today, there are numerous airbags in the entire vehicle.

PRE-SAFE® is another milestone in Mercedes-Benz safety technology development. If the sensors detect an impending collision, the technology prepares the vehicle for impact. For example, it closes the sliding sunroof and side windows, sets the seat backrests to vertical and tightens the seat belts on the front seats as a precautionary measure. This increases a protective effect for the passengers.

Since 2013, numerous assistance systems have been bundled together under the name Mercedes-Benz Intelligent Drive. The clever combination of cameras, sensors and control units makes the vehicle an “intelligent” partner. The assistance systems and their ever increasing interconnectivity are pioneering – and a milestone on the road to autonomous and accident-free driving.

The EQS is the first fully electric luxury saloon from Mercedes-Benz and is the first model to be built with the modular architecture for luxury and upper-class electric vehicles. The MBUX Hyperscreen, a high-resolution user interface that extends over the entire width of the dashboard, is also celebrated as a world first in series production vehicles.