Maybach [1] is a German luxury car brand owned by Mercedes-Benz. The original company was founded in 1909 by Wilhelm Maybach and his son Karl Maybach, originally as a subsidiary of Luftschiffbau Zeppelin GmbH, and it was known as Luftfahrzeug-Motorenbau GmbH until 1999.
In 1960, Maybach was acquired by Daimler-Benz. The name returned as a standalone ultra-luxury car brand in 2002, sharing significant components with Mercedes-Benz cars. In 2013, after slow sales, Maybach ceased to be a standalone brand. In 2015, it became a sub-brand of Mercedes-Benz, which the Mercedes-Benz Group owns. As of 2021, Daimler produces an ultra-luxury edition of the Mercedes-Benz S-Class, the Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV, the Mercedes-Benz GLS-Class, and the Mercedes-Benz SL under the Mercedes-Maybach name.[3]
1909–1940: Early history
Wilhelm Maybach was the technical director of the Daimler-Motoren-Gesellschaft (DMG) until he left in 1907. On 23 March 1909, he founded the new company, Luftfahrzeug-Motorenbau GmbH (literally "Aircraft Engine Manufacturing Company"), with his son Karl Maybach as director.[4] In 1912, they renamed it to Maybach-Motorenbau GmbH ("Maybach Engine Manufacturing Company"). Maybach originally developed and manufactured diesel and petrol engines for German Zeppelins, and then rail cars. Its Maybach Mb.IVa was used in German aircraft and airships of World War I.
In 1919, Maybach built an experimental car, introduced as a production model two years later at the Berlin Motor Show. Between 1921 and 1940, Maybach produced a variety of opulent vehicles, now regarded as classics. Maybach continued to build heavy-duty diesel engines for marine and rail purposes.
Maybach had a British subsidiary, Maybach Gears Ltd., that specialised in gearboxes. In 1938, in conjunction with Dr Henry Merritt, they produced a gearbox and steering system – the 'Merritt-Maybach' – for the abortive Nuffield A.16E1 Cruiser tank design.[5]
1940–1945
During the Second World War, Maybach produced the engines for most of Nazi Germany's tanks and half-tracks. These included almost all the production tank engines for the Panzer I, II, III, IV and V, the Tiger I and II (Maybach HL230) and other heavy tanks. Maybach built engines for half-tracks such as the Sd.Kfz. 251 personnel carrier and prime movers like the Sd.Kfz. 9. The engine plant was one of several industries targeted by allied bombers at Friedrichshafen, leading to the establishment of an underground factory (codenamed "Richard I") under Radobýl mountain in Central Bohemia.
After WWII, the factory performed some repair work, but automotive production was never restarted. Some 20 years later, Maybach was renamed MTU Friedrichshafen.
1960s
Daimler-Benz purchased the company in 1960. Post-1960, the company was mainly used to make special editions of Mercedes cars in the W108 and W116 model range, which were virtually hand built. These cars carried the Mercedes badge and serial numbers.
Rolls-Royce Power Systems AG, based in Friedrichshafen, used to manufacture the commercial Maybach diesel engines under the MTU brand through its subsidiary MTU Friedrichshafen GmbH.
1997–2013
Daimler presented a luxury concept car at the 1997 Tokyo Motor Show. A production model based on it was introduced in two sizes – the Maybach 57 and the Maybach 62, reflecting the lengths of the automobiles in decimetres. In 2005, the 57S was added, powered by a 6.0 L V12 bi-turbo engine producing 450 kW and 1000 Nm of torque, and featuring cosmetic touches.
To promote the new Maybach line, Mercedes-Benz engaged figures such as Maybach heir Ulrich Schmid-Maybach and golfer Nick Faldo to serve as brand ambassadors.[6]
Initially, Daimler-Chrysler predicted annual sales of 2,000 worldwide with 50 percent coming from the United States. These expectations never materialized.[7][8] In 2007, Mercedes bought back 29 US dealers, reducing the total from 71 to 42.[9]
2015–present
Revival
The company announced that the line would be replaced by the next-generation of the Mercedes-Benz S-Class, Model W222, due for the 2014 model year, particularly the long wheelbase S-Class Pullman. An executive told a Frankfurt newspaper that "Daimler came to the conclusion that the sales chances for the Mercedes brand were better than that of Maybach."[21]
Mercedes-Maybach
In November 2014, Daimler announced the revival of the Maybach name as a sub-brand of the Mercedes-Benz S-Class (W222), known internally as the model X222 platform, positioned as an upscale version akin to the more sporty Mercedes-AMG sub-brand. In anticipation of its April 2015 launch,[22]
Models
Pre-war
2 were the 5.7 L inline six engines built for and ordered by Spyker. Not all were purchased, and Karl had to build cars featuring the engines to offset costs.
Around 1800 Maybachs were built before WWII.
- 1919 Maybach W1: Test car based on a DMG chassis
- 1921 Maybach W3: First Maybach, shown at Berlin Motor Show. Featured a 70 hp 5.7L inline six.
- 1926 Maybach W5: 7L inline six, 120 hp
- 1929 Maybach 12: V12 precursor to DS7/8
- 1930 Maybach DSH: Doppel-Sechs-Halbe ("half a twelve cylinder") 1930–1937
- 1930 Maybach DS7 Zeppelin: 7L V12, 150 hp
- 1931 Maybach W6: Same engine as W5, longer wheelbase. 1931–1933
Sales
In November 2020, Daimler announced that it planned to double its Maybach sales, based on strong Chinese demand, where the car is used as a limousine.[38]
See also
- List of German car manufacturers
- Maybach Foundation
- Maybach I and II, two World War II bunker complexes named after the engines
- Museum for Historical Maybach Vehicles
External links
- Maybach Comes to a Quiet End
- Maybach Manufaktur
- The Maybach Museum
- A biography of Wilhelm Maybach
- Technical information about Maybach engines in the Tiger I tank
- Maybach Foundation
- "Lockers Hold Spare Wheel of Stream Line Auto", Popular Mechanics, October 1932, a streamlined auto made in co-operation with Junkers engineers, only one built
References
- Wilhelm Maybach Forvo, the pronunciation dictionary, retrieved 24 August 2012^
- Sven Raphael Schneider. 23 Luxury Car Brands You're Mispronouncing: How to Pronounce Mercedes Benz, Jaguar, Bugatti, & More Gentlemen's Gazette, 26 October 2020^
- Dorothee Tschampa. Mercedes Revives Maybach Name to Challenge Rolls-Royce