Exploring the History and Symbolism

Recognizing the iconic Mercedes logo doesn’t require being a luxury car enthusiast. Renowned as one of the world’s most distinguished car brands, the Mercedes symbol embodies sophistication and excellence, whether in simple logos or colorful designs.

With a legacy stretching over almost a century, Mercedes, also recognized as Mercedes-Benz, commands a prominent position in automotive history. This German automaker accomplished an impressive milestone by becoming the world’s largest seller of premium vehicles by 2018, with sales surpassing 2.31 million cars. This achievement underscores the expertise of professional logo creators behind the iconic Mercedes emblem.

Whether you possess extensive knowledge about Mercedes automobiles and are keen to explore the nuances of their emblem, or you simply admire remarkable logos, this guide is your go-to resource for everything related to the Mercedes symbol. Explore the realm of logo design makers and uncover the secrets behind this iconic badge.

Discover more about this emblematic badge and explore the world of online logo design services, logo design makers, professional logo creators, and the characteristics of simple logos and colorful logos.

Mercedes-Benz Logo and Its History

The Mercedes-Benz logo, featuring a silver three-pointed star, is an international treasure, attracting consumers worldwide. The company’s success is attributed to its quality cars and billions of dollars in global sales. The logo’s evolution over 100 years is a fascinating exploration.

The Mercedes logo Evolution

The company’s emblem, a three-pointed star, symbolizes dominance over land, air, and sea, but its origins can be traced back to Mercedes Jelinek's 1901 order from Daimler-Motoren-Gesellschaft.

1902–1909

Daimler-Motoren-Gesellschaft registered Mercedes as a trademark in 1902, with the three-pointed star added in 1909. Emil Jellinek changed his name to Mercedes.

1909–1916

In 1909, the Benz logo featured a stylish circular design with a thick double outline, fancy wreath design, and a unique black font, reflecting the brand’s strength and vitality.

1916–1926

In 1916, the brand introduced an elegant logo featuring a blue and white star against a burgundy-red background, symbolizing style and strength, enclosed in a circular frame.

1926–1933

In 1926, the brand got a new logo with some minor tweaks from the previous one. This version had a white and blue star logo on a deep red background, surrounded by a thick circular frame. Inside the circle, there was a white wordmark and some leaf decorations. The emblem looked very classy and sophisticated, with its colors representing style, elegance, and strength.

The white wordmark and leaves added a touch of refinement to the design, symbolizing power and elegance.

1933–1989

The logo again went through some changes in 1933. A light ray color replaced the deep red background, giving the logo a new look. The blue-and-white star now uses white and gray shades, while the thick blue frame around the logo remains the same.

The leaf icons were redrawn and made slightly more prominent, giving the logo an updated appearance while maintaining its elegance and sophistication.

But later on, the logo was changed into a black silhouette which now looks like a steering wheel:

1989–2009

This three-dimensional logo rocked a modern and dynamic look. The color palette of the badge changed to a gradient gray, and the star symbol was now crafted in a glossy, metallic texture, which makes it shine and stand out.

With this update, the logo continued to represent the brand’s commitment to innovation and excellence, showcasing a perfect blend of modernity and classic elegance.

2009–2011

2009 logo took on a new look by adopting a flat design. The three-dimensional elements were removed, giving it a more minimalistic and contemporary appearance. The emblem and the wordmark were redrawn in plain gray color without any additional details or embellishments.

The typeface of the lettering remained unchanged, preserving the brand’s recognizable style. However, without the shadow effect, the lines of the lettering appeared thinner and cleaner.

The simplicity and elegance of this version continue to symbolize the brand’s legacy of excellence and timelessness.

2011-Today

The current logo retained some elements from the 1989 version but had noticeable changes. The emblem resembled the 1989 design, which featured a circular frame, but the frame became thicker, which resulted in a more impactful and bolder appearance.

The wordmark with thinner lines and elegant font complements the emblem perfectly, showcasing a harmonious balance between strength and grace.

The final logo version that the company used captures the essence of timeless elegance, reflecting the brand’s ongoing pursuit of excellence and its enduring impact in the automotive world.

The History of the Mercedes-Benz Logo

We’ll explain the rest of this great company’s history later, but first, let’s delve into the logo. The Mercedes logo is one of the most recognized brands anywhere in the world. The famous logo design represents the professional ethos, integrity, and rich legacy of the automotive company.

Let’s look at the Mercedes-Benz logo’s history, considered among the world’s most famous brand identities, and how the design elements came together.

Shape of the logo

The three-pointed star is the most noticeable thing in the Mercedes-Benz logo. The three points of the three-prong triangle signify the power of the three elemental forces on Earth — Land, air, and sea.

The sharp, shiny imagery looks stunning to the eyes. It conveys the true essence of the brand personality of Mercedes, and the futuristic look shows the companies ambitions for a bright and prosperous time ahead.

Color of the logo

Mercedes aptly uses the shade of metallic silver in its corporate identity. It is said that silver is a favorite color of elites in the German monarchy, which is why this color was used for the Mercedes-Benz brand, signifying their great company mindset.

The silver Mercedes three-pointed star is as iconic an image as the yellow ‘M’ of Mcdonalds and remains one of the world’s most recognizable symbols to this day.

Logo font

The fonts were created in a corporate light and give the design a sophisticated look as well as keeping in theme with the shiny silver of the emblem and truly reflects the personality of the logo design of Mercedes-Benz.

Conclusion

The Mercedes-Benz logo stands as an artistic representation of one of the world’s most trusted and thrilling car manufacturers. With a legacy spanning over a century, its logo design has consistently captured hearts and minds, from the classic three-pointed emblem to the sleek silver rendition in 2008.

As we ponder the future of artistic logo branding and luxury logos, we await eagerly to see if the brand’s future identities will maintain the quality and ethos we’ve come to adore. Across continents, Mercedes remains an iconic symbol, and we can only hope for its continued success as it evolves alongside its logo designs.