What Is the Mercedes-Benz Logo?
The Mercedes-Benz logo is a three-pointed star inside a ring, often shown with the name Mercedes-Benz beneath it. It belongs to Mercedes-Benz, the German car brand based in Stuttgart, which has carried the joint Mercedes-Benz name since Daimler-Motoren-Gesellschaft and Benz & Cie. merged in 1926.
Since 1921 the star has also stood upright as a bonnet ornament, and on newer models it is often flatter and built into the grille. The star in its ring is available as the Mercedes-Benz logo SVG.
Mercedes-Benz Logo Facts
| Introduced | Star 1909; star in a ring 1921; Mercedes-Benz star and wreath 1926 |
| Symbol | A three-pointed star |
| Logo type | Abstract mark: a three-pointed star in a ring |
| Earlier mark | The Benz & Cie. laurel wreath, registered in 1909 |
| Owner | Mercedes-Benz Group AG |
What the Mercedes-Benz Logo Means
The three points stand for land, water and air. Daimler-Motoren-Gesellschaft (DMG) took the star as a symbol of Gottlieb Daimler's aim of universal motorisation, and its engines did power cars, boats and aircraft.
The idea goes back to Daimler himself. In 1872, while he was technical director of the engine maker Gasmotorenfabrik Deutz, he marked his family's house on a postcard of Deutz with a star. After his death in 1900 his sons, Paul and Adolf Daimler, turned that star into a trademark for his company.
The name Mercedes has a separate story. Emil Jellinek, an Austrian car entrepreneur who worked with DMG, raced under the name "Monsieur Mercédès" in 1899, after his daughter Mercédès. He named the 1901 Mercedes 35 hp after her.
Mercedes-Benz Logo History
On 24 June 1909 DMG applied to protect a three-pointed star, and it registered a four-pointed star at about the same time. Only the three-pointed version was used. From 1910 the star appeared on Mercedes cars, including on the radiator.
In 1921 DMG registered a three-dimensional star inside a circle, also for use as a radiator ornament.
Meanwhile Benz & Cie., the company founded by Carl Benz, had its own mark: the name Benz inside a laurel wreath, registered as a trademark on 6 August 1909. In 1925, as the two firms prepared to merge, the Mercedes star was placed inside the Benz wreath. The merger took effect in 1926, creating Daimler-Benz AG and the Mercedes-Benz brand under the combined emblem.
Mercedes-Benz and BMW
The two German premium carmakers both chose round badges. BMW splits its circle into blue and white quarters (compare the BMW logo), while Mercedes-Benz uses the circle as a frame for a star that carries Gottlieb Daimler's land, water and air ambition.
For more brands like Mercedes-Benz, browse our car logos.
Frequently Asked Questions
What do the three points of the Mercedes star mean?
They stand for land, water and air, reflecting Gottlieb Daimler's goal of motorising travel in all three.
Where does the name Mercedes come from?
From Mercédès Jellinek, the daughter of Emil Jellinek, who worked with DMG and raced under her name in 1899.
When was the Mercedes star registered?
Daimler-Motoren-Gesellschaft applied to protect the three-pointed star on 24 June 1909.
Why did the 1926 Mercedes-Benz emblem have a laurel wreath?
The wreath was the Benz & Cie. trademark, and placing DMG's star inside it marked the merger of the two companies.