The Mercedes-Benz Logo, Explained: What’s Behind the 3-Pointed Star?

 
Although the Mercedes-Benz logo has been refined several times over the years, today’s models are marked with the iconic Mercedes-Benz 3-pointed star that most drivers recognize on sight! Although the image itself is enough to set some hearts racing, the Mercedes-Benz logo meaning is sure to strike an even deeper chord with our neighbors near Ashburn and Reston.

The Mercedes-Benz Logo History

Gottlieb Daimler founded the company that would become Mercedes-Benz back in 1890. Although Wilhelm Maybach and Emil Jellinek took over the company (then called Daimler-Motoren-Gesellschaft, or DMG) in 1890, Daimler’s sons Paul and Adolf would stay involved for years to come.

In 1909, the two brothers must have been reflecting on their heritage when they recalled a postcard, sent by their father in 1872, which marked the location of their home with a distinctive 3-pointed star. In the same year, DMG would acquire the logo and begin emblazoning it on all of their vehicles. 

Although it was initially colored in blue, the image was revised with a laurel border in 1926. The color of the Mercedes-Benz 3-pointed star was only changed to silver in 1934.

The Mercedes-Benz Logo Meaning

As can be ascertained from the story above, the Mercedes-Benz logo is a reminder of the company’s heritage–beginning with the dream of one man, who wanted to engineer the ultimate performance vehicles.

Is the Mercedes-Benz logo meaning simply a marker of the Daimler sons’ filial piety, or is there a deeper story to be told? It depends in part on who you ask, but according to Mercedes-Benz officials, there’s still more to be said:

• The Mercedes-Benz 3-pointed star refers to the company’s drive for universal motorization! Each point on the star represents an environment–Land, Sea, or Air–which the Daimler brothers believed that their company would one day conquer.

In fact, we think that this symbolic importance may have been what attracted the Daimler brothers to their father’s 3-pointed star in the first place!

What About the Mercedes-Benz AMG® Logo? 

At first glance, the Mercedes-Benz AMG® logo might appear even more cryptic, like something derived from a treasure map or adopted from an ancient secret society. The truth is hardly so esoteric: 

• The right side of the Mercedes-Benz AMG® logo depicts a cam, valve, and valve spring. Quite naturally, these crucial engine components symbolize the passion for engineering that goes into every Mercedes-Benz AMG® engine.
• The left side of the Mercedes-Benz AMG® emblem depicts an apple tree, or more precisely, an apple tree located along a river. This is the historic coat of arms of the town of Affalterbach, Germany, where the Mercedes-Benz AMG® headquarters is located.

Learn More About Mercedes-Benz Vehicle with Mercedes-Benz of Arlington!

You’ve learned a little bit about the official Mercedes-Benz logo meaning, but if you want to know what these vehicles stand for, you’ll need to get behind the wheel at Mercedes-Benz of Arlington. Check out our full new vehicle inventory or our current AMG® lineup today, and schedule a test drive you’ll never forget.

As always, keep up with our blog for the latest news and interesting stories related to your favorite high-performance vehicles, and feel free to contact us today with any questions you have!