Mercedes cars are named after an Austrian girl?

Mercedes Jellinek

ON September 16, 1889, a third child was born to an Austrian businessman Emil Jellinek in Vienna. Rachel and Emil gave their daughter a Spanish Christian name, which meant "grace" and later became world famous. Her name was Mercedes. In 1897, Emil travelled from his home in France to purchase a car from the Daimler factory in Germany. On his return his sporting Daimler Phoenix caused such a sensation that he decided to enter it into a local touring competition, under the name of "Mercedes" after his favourite 9- year-old daughter. Realising the business potential for the new car, he not only placed an order for 36 more, but also secured the franchise for selling them in several countries.

The Mercedes trade name was registered after Daimler's death in 1900 and the 3-pointed star became the trademark. Daimler had once drawn the emblem on a postcard to his wife, the star symbolising the growth of the business into transport on land, sea and air.

Gottlieb Daimler (1834 - 1900) founded the Daimler Motoren Gesellschaft (DMG) in 1890, and also introduced the world's first motor cycle, pick-up truck and taxi.

— Compiled by Gaurav Sood