Did Ford own Mercedes?
No, Ford Motor Company did not own Mercedes-Benz. Mercedes-Benz is a German luxury automotive brand that has never been owned by Ford. The two companies have operated independently throughout their histories.
The Relationship Between Ford and Mercedes-Benz
While Ford and Mercedes-Benz have never been under the same corporate ownership, the two automakers have had a long history of collaboration and competition in the global automotive market. Both companies have been major players in the industry for over a century, but they have maintained separate identities and operations.
There have been some instances of technology sharing and joint ventures between Ford and Mercedes-Benz over the years, but these have been limited in scope and duration. For example, in the 1990s, Ford and Mercedes-Benz collaborated on the development of some engine and transmission technologies. However, these partnerships were not indicative of any ownership or control of one company by the other.
The Origins and Ownership of Mercedes-Benz
Mercedes-Benz was founded in 1886 by Karl Benz, who patented the first gasoline-powered automobile. The company was originally known as Daimler-Benz, after a merger between Benz & Cie. and Daimler-Benz AG in 1926. In 1998, Daimler-Benz (the parent company of Mercedes-Benz) merged with the American automaker Chrysler Corporation, forming DaimlerChrysler. However, this merger did not involve Ford, and Mercedes-Benz remained a wholly-owned subsidiary of DaimlerChrysler (later Daimler AG).
Today, Mercedes-Benz is owned by Daimler AG, a German multinational automotive corporation. Ford has never had any ownership stake in Mercedes-Benz or its parent companies.
