1： Introduction

Karl Friedrich Benz (November 25, 1844 – April 4, 1929) was a renowned German co-founder of the Daimler-Benz automotive company. He is hailed as one of the pioneers of the modern automotive industry, often referred to as the "Father of Automobile" or "Automotive Pioneer".

2： Personal Life

Genius Born On November 25, 1844, Benz was born posthumously in Karlsruhe, Baden-Württemberg, Germany. He was born out of wedlock and hence was named after his mother's surname, Josephine Vaillant, as Karl Friedrich Michael Vaillant. Growing up in a craftsman family, his father Johann Georg Benz was originally a train driver. Benz's parents married a year after his birth. When Benz was 2 years old in 1846, his father died in a train accident (the actual time of his father's death remains contested; another theory is that his father died in 1843 and Benz was born posthumously). It was only then that he adopted his father's surname, becoming Karl Friedrich Michael Benz, and later changed to Carl Friedrich Michael Benz.

Student Days From middle school, Benz had a keen interest in natural sciences. Due to financial constraints, he also earned pocket money by repairing watches. In 1860, under his mother's wishes, he enrolled in the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology where he met two professors who were advocates of the "capital invention" theory. They influenced Benz's entire life. At the institute, he learned crucial subjects like mechanical construction, mechanical principles, engine manufacturing, and mechanical manufacturing economics, laying the foundation for his future endeavors.

Entrepreneurial Journey After various roles, including an apprenticeship at a mechanical factory, being a designer at a scale factory, and a foreman at a bridge construction company, Benz decided in 1872 to establish a factory named after himself – Benz Ironware Foundry and Mechanical Factory. Due to economic downturns, the factory faced bankruptcy.

In dire financial straits and unable to repay borrowed money, Benz remembered his professor's "capital invention" theory. He decided that the manufacturing of engines, which could yield high profits, could be his turning point. After this adventurous start, Benz delved into engine research and obtained licenses to produce four-stroke and two-stroke engines. In 1879, he invented the first single-cylinder gas engine.

Invention of the Automobile Soon, he obtained a license to produce the Otto four-stroke gas engine. After over a year of design and trial production, he made the first single-cylinder gas engine on December 31, 1879. However, this invention didn't save the company from its financial troubles. Yet, the persistent German didn't give up. After years of effort, on January 29, 1886, Benz developed a single-cylinder gasoline engine. Distinctly, he installed this engine on a tricycle, inventing the first motor vehicle that didn't rely on horses.

Automotive Company Formation In 1906, Benz, with his two sons, established the Benz & Sons company in Ladenburg. Benz cars became world-renowned. During his invention journey, Karl Benz demonstrated admirable courage: he dedicated himself to his inventive work, chose the internal combustion engine over the technically mature steam engine, and both developed high-end cars and adjusted product structures according to market needs.

The Giant Rests Three years later, Benz, who had dedicated his life to the automobile dream, passed away. His dedication to automotive technology and his ability to make market-driven decisions even after establishing his empire might be the legacies that have contributed to the excellence of Mercedes-Benz today.

3 ：Mercedes-Benz Timeline

Nineteenth Century

1886: Benz's patented three-wheeled car powered by a gasoline engine was introduced. Meanwhile, Daimler also launched his first four-wheeled car.

1889: Daimler first equipped his car with a four-speed gearbox.

1890: The Daimler Motor Company was founded.

1894: The first car race from Paris to Rouen was won by a car powered by a Daimler engine.

1895: The world's first bus service started, powered by a Benz engine.

1896: Daimler produced the world's first truck.

1897: The world's first taxi service was launched in Stuttgart using cars manufactured by Daimler.

Early Twentieth Century

1901: Daimler's 35hp Mercedes race car won the Nice-La Turbie hill climb race.

1902: Daimler obtained the legal right to use the name "Mercedes" and used it as their new trademark.

1903: Benz's first three-box car, the Parsifal, was successfully manufactured.

1910: Benz developed the world's first 4-valve engine.

1914: Benz manufactured the first 12-cylinder 250hp aero engine.

Twenties and Thirties of the Twentieth Century

1926: Mercedes-Benz was formed as a result of a merger between Benz's and Daimler's companies.

1934: Mercedes-Benz produced the world's first bulletproof car, the 770K, especially for Hitler.

1936: Mercedes-Benz launched the world's first car with a diesel engine, the 206D.

1938: The aerodynamically designed Mercedes-Benz 320 was launched.

Late Twentieth Century

1972: The company introduced a new luxury car, the 280SE, which later became the first S-Class.

1974: The company launched the world's first car with a 5-cylinder diesel engine, the 240D 3.0.

1978: At the Frankfurt International Auto Show, the company launched the 450SLC 5.0.

1979: The company ventured into the off-road vehicle market with the all-new G-Class.

Note: This is a summary translation and does not capture every detail from the original text. Some sections may need further refinement to convey more nuanced meaning.