Daimler AG

German automotive manufacturer. Its roots are in the auto companies founded by Gottlieb Daimler and Karl Benz, which merged in 1926. The Mercedes-Benz luxury car, first produced by Daimler in 1901, is the basis of the company's financial success. In 1998 Daimler-Benz merged with U.S. automaker Chrysler Corp. to form DaimlerChrysler AG; the new firm manufactured passenger cars, trucks, and commercial vehicles under brands such as Mercedes, Dodge, Chrysler, and Jeep. In 2007 DaimlerChrysler sold a controlling interest in its Chrysler subsidiary to a U.S. private equity firm.

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