1908

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  • April 1908
  • A Daimler cross-country passenger car with all-wheel drive and all-wheel steering completes a 1,677 km test run from its production plant Berlin-Marienfelde to Untertürkheim and back. In May the vehicle is shipped to Swakopmund in German South West Africa (present-day Namibia), where Bernhard Dernburg, permanent secretary at the Imperial Colonial Office, goes on to clock up many kilometres at the wheel.
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  • April 1908
  • The first production car of the 35 hp "Mercedes Cardan" model leaves the Untertürkheim factory, marking the launch of the first Mercedes car equipped with propshaft drive.
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  • 26 May 1908
  • Benz & Cie. sets up Ungarische Benz-Automobilfabrik AG in Budapest, Hungary, to handle production of passenger cars, trucks and buses.
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  • May 1908
  • Benz brings the small and reasonably priced 10/18 hp model onto the market. The owner of the first car to leave the factory is Prince Waldemar, son of Prince Heinrich.
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  • 9 - 18 June 1908
  • The first Prinz Heinrich Rally, a touring car event under the patronage of the brother of the German Kaiser, takes place from Berlin to Frankfurt am Main via Hamburg and Cologne. Fritz Erle secures the race win in a 50 hp Benz tourer.
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  • 7 July 1908
  • Christian Lautenschlager wins the French Grand Prix in Dieppe in a 140 hp Mercedes. He completes the 769.88 km at an average speed of 111.1 km/h. Second and third places are taken by Victor Hémery and René Hanriot in Benz racing cars, and the track record of 126.5 km/h is set by Otto Salzer, also in a 140 hp Mercedes.
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  • 14 September 1908
  • Germany's first electric-powered fire-fighting trucks are put into service by the Berlin fire brigade. The combination comprises four vehicles with Mercédès Électrique chassis produced by Österreichische Daimler-Motoren-Gesellschaft. A heavy-duty battery above the front axle supplies power to the hub motors in the front wheels.
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  • 12 October 1908
  • Official opening of the Benz plant built on the Luzenberg in Mannheim-Waldhof at a total cost of 4.6 million Marks. In the period up to 1909 automobile manufacture is gradually transferred to the new plant. The stationary engine production department remains at the old factory in Waldhofstrasse.
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