Mercedes-Benz Bus History - Daimler

Gottlieb Daimler quickly drew conclusions from this experience. For
instance, he replaced the belt drive with a four-speed gear-only
transmission. “The Daimler motorbus is built in various sizes, and
depending on the local conditions it is equipped with engines of
different outputs. For level roads the weaker engines suffice, whereas
for routes with hills the vehicles must be fitted with the more powerful
engines.” These were the words used by Daimler-Motorengesellschaft
to describe its new type of vehicle in 1898, with particular praise for
the engine: “The motive power is furnished by the new Daimler
‘Phoenix’ engine, whose practical design is specifically calculated for
powering vehicles and is unrivalled in every respect.”
The establishment of a great many bus lines in Germany and abroad
followed. The big breakthrough for the bus in Germany came when the
Württemberg and Bavarian postal services began ordering motor
vehicles in grand style, both to carry parcel post and, a little later, to
transport passengers. Up until the outbreak of the First World War,
Daimler-Motorengesellschaft delivered around 350 buses to
customers. The biggest buyer was the Royal Bavarian Postal
Administration, which took a total of 250 units. Daimler was market
leader with a 43 percent market share. Benz was Number 2 with 18
percent market share; Büssing ranked third with twelve percent.
England again played a crucial role. As early as in April 1898 a British
customer, the Motor Car Company, got its first bus from Cannstatt,
which traveled the long distance to London under its own power and
made a strong impression on the big-city dwellers on its inaugural run
from the port town of Gravesend to London: “Every man, every woman
and every child in Long Acre and along Picadilly stopped in their tracks
and stared at the vehicle as it thundered past and resolutely and
steadily went its way,” an eye-witness reported.
Daimler Communications, 70546 Stuttgart/Germany
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