MERCEDES BENZ MUSEUM CELEBRATES 140 YEAR MILESTONE AT MODAMIAMI 2026

## Historic Patent Meets Miami Culture On January 29, 1886, Carl Benz applied for a patent for his "vehicle powered by a gas engine." Filed by Carl Benz on Jan. 29, 1886, the patent marked the beginning of modern mobility and is now recognized in the UNESCO Memory of the World Register. Exactly 140 years later, the Mercedes-Benz Museum acknowledged this milestone through a strategic partnership with ModaMiami 2026. RM Sotheby's will welcome Mercedes-Benz Heritage as a featured partner of ModaMiami 2026, presenting a curated selection of automobiles that trace the evolution of the motorcar from its origin to the present day. Staged at The Biltmore Hotel in Coral Gables from Feb. 27 to March 1, the weekend brings together collectors and enthusiasts as a meeting point for automotive culture, relevance and experiential luxury, company officials stated in a press release. ## The Birth Certificate of Mobility At the center of the display is the 1886 Benz Patent-Motorwagen, widely regarded as the first automobile. The Benz Patent-Motorwagen ("patent motorcar"), built in 1885 by the German engineer Karl Benz, is widely regarded as the first practical automobile and was the first car put into production. The original cost of the vehicle was 600 imperial German marks, approximately 150 US dollars (equivalent to $5,400 in 2025). At ModaMiami, the Motorwagen will lead the Moda Classic drive and offer demonstration rides on the show field, allowing guests to experience the earliest chapter of automotive history in motion, noted the release. ## Museum Momentum Builds Anniversary Energy The Mercedes-Benz Museum ended the year 2025 with its second record in a row: it welcomed a total of 945,716 visitors - more than ever before in a single year. Compared to the previous peak year of 2024, this represents an increase of around 63,000 or more than 7 per cent (2024: 882,422). 2026 is the year of anniversaries for us: The kick-off was the world premiere of the S-Class here at the Museum on 29 January, the historic day on which Carl Benz filed his patent 140 years ago. Since the Mercedes-Benz Museum opened in 2006, more than 14 million people from all over the world have visited it. ## MANUFAKTUR Customization Takes Center Stage A further highlight is the presentation of MANUFAKTUR Mercedes-Benz, the company's cross-brand customization program. Selected materials and craftsmanship refine each vehicle and make it unique. A Mercedes-AMG G 63 MANUFAKTUR from 2026 in the bright color Sea Blue Metallic and with other individual equipment features, including an interior in MANUFAKTUR Black with contrasting blue stitching, will be exhibited at ModaMiami. ## Global Anniversary Campaign Connects Heritage to Future Mercedes-Benz has launched a year-long programme to mark 140 years since Carl Benz filed the patent for the first automobile, beginning with the world premiere of the new S-Class at the Mercedes-Benz Museum in Stuttgart on 29 January 2026. The celebrations include a global tour titled "140 Years. 140 Places." in which three new S-Class saloons will travel more than 50,000 km across Europe, South America, North America, Australia, Asia and Africa, visiting 140 symbolic locations before returning to Stuttgart in October 2026. ModaMiami 2025 set a new benchmark for the automotive lifestyle, featuring nearly 400 of the world's finest cars, top luxury brands, and an RM Sotheby's auction exceeding $74.5 million in sales. The presence of Rolls-Royce, Mercedes-Benz, Maybach, and dozens more further cemented its place as a marquee event on the global calendar. ## Cultural Impact Beyond Automotive Circles ModaMiami's international reach was stronger than ever, welcoming over 10,000 attendees from 27 countries. The event has redefined exclusivity in the luxury car world, attracting a younger, more diverse audience and the biggest names in the industry. The collaboration between Mercedes-Benz Museum and ModaMiami 2026 demonstrates how historic automotive milestones can energize contemporary luxury culture, creating connections between engineering heritage and modern lifestyle experiences.