Mercedes-Benz

There may have been vehicles technically considered automobiles before Karl Benz, Gottlieb Daimler and Wilhelm Maybach started out. But those automotive pioneers formed powerhouses that merged in 1924, and by 1926 the Mercedes-Benz brand hit the road. The company survived conflict in Europe to produce stately, sober cars of impeccable build quality, like the 600 Grosser limo that was favored by world leaders (as well as despots). Its once-independent AMG division produces sportier versions of most of the company's products, although Mercedes still also produces the sorts of trucks, buses and other commercial vehicles that have always been part of the range. The lineup spans from the humble GLA crossover all the way to the Mercedes-AMG GT, with many sedans, wagons and SUVs in between.