How Mercedes-Benz Maintained Its Iconic Reputation for More than a Century

Bertha’s long drive

On August 5, 1888, just a few days after Karl Benz got a driver’s license, Bertha Benz snuck away with the Motorwagen and took it on a 130-mile roundtrip from Mannheim to Pforzheim to visit her mother.

Source: MotorBiscuitSince Bertha had no driver’s license, their joyride was illegal but she was able to prove her point. Karl was not able to market the car properly and she proved that he should be more confident about its capacities for public use. It is this famous long ride that brought the Motorwagen worldwide attention.