From World War I airships to rail cars to ultra-luxury vehicles, the Maybach Company can still send shivers down the spine of most every automobile enthusiast. Fondly referred to as the “king of the design engineers,” Wilhelm Maybach of Germany is where the Maybach car story begins.

Wilhelm reigned not merely as the technical director of the Daimler-Motoren-Gesellschaft (DMG), but he was the original engineer and founder of the innovative company, Maybach-Motorenbau GmbH, which when translated means “Maybach Engine Construction Company.”  In 1919, the company first made a name for itself with an experimental car and between 1921 to 1940, the Maybach car company manufactured a multitude of magnificent vehicles.

The twenties and the forties are heralded as eras in which Maybach set innovative standards for car performance, expertise, and size. The company shocked many with the debut of the “small” model of car, which hailed the SW (short for swing axle). It is interesting to note that this car type was made famous due to the unique production of the Maybach automobile: it was tenderly crafted by hand to create a customized car in harmony with the particular customer’s inclinations.  This dedication to uniqueness and commitment to customer creativity led to many satisfied Maybach car owners and manifested a ground-breaking approach to car creation.

After approximately twenty five years of prosperous production, Maybach put an end to the production of vehicles and instead immersed himself in the engineering efforts necessary to generate engines for military purposes in World War II. Maybach produced engines for Nazi Germany’s tanks, but instead of rekindling production after the Second World War had concluded, Maybach ceased to manufacture more automobiles. While the war might have lodged a wrench in production for some years, the Maybach car brand would not be silenced. In 1960, Daimler-Benz obtained the company.

In 1997, the car company resurfaced with a fighting fervor. Maserati began developing an especially luxurious car market sold under the brand name of Maybach for the chief purpose of competing with Bentley and Rolls-Royce. Despite providing customized cars tailored to personal customer preference, the 2008 fiscal crisis proved to detriment the revival of the company. With unimpressive sales and a lack of overall popularity, Daimler has declared that it will cease production of Maybach cars in the year 2013.

To this day, Maybach vehicles remain pioneers in technological innovation. Standard Maybach features generally include the following: seat massage in both front and back seats, voice activated radio, heated cup holders, steering wheel with climate and radio controls, and air filter for interior as well as a voice recognition navigation system.

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