Maybach

Maybach refers to a German ultra-luxury car manufacturer founded in 1909 by Wilhelm Maybach and his son, Karl Maybach. Originally, the company was a subsidiary of Luftfahrzeug-Motorenbau GmbH (later Daimler-Motoren-Gesellschaft or DMG), and focused on producing engines for airships, most notably those built by Zeppelin.

Following World War I, Maybach shifted its focus to manufacturing complete automobiles, aiming for the pinnacle of luxury and performance. The company produced a range of large and opulent vehicles throughout the 1920s and 1930s, often custom-built to the specific desires of wealthy clients. Notable models from this era included the Maybach 12, often referred to as the Maybach Zeppelin due to its powerful V12 engine.

Production was curtailed by World War II, and the Maybach factory was repurposed for wartime production. After the war, the company did not resume automobile production.

The Maybach name was revived by Daimler AG (formerly Daimler-Benz) in 2002 as a standalone ultra-luxury marque, intended to compete directly with Rolls-Royce and Bentley. This new Maybach produced two models, the Maybach 57 and the Maybach 62, named for their approximate lengths in decimeters. However, these models failed to achieve the commercial success Daimler had hoped for, and production of the revived Maybach brand ceased in 2012.

In 2015, Daimler resurrected the Maybach name again, this time not as a standalone brand, but as a sub-brand of Mercedes-Benz. The Mercedes-Maybach line represents the most luxurious and high-end versions of select Mercedes-Benz models, such as the S-Class and GLS-Class. These vehicles offer enhanced levels of comfort, craftsmanship, and exclusivity compared to their standard Mercedes-Benz counterparts. The Mercedes-Maybach brand is currently active and remains a significant player in the ultra-luxury automotive market.