In a highly competitive world, where milliseconds and millimetres separate winners from everyone else, we not only have to continually exceed the standards set by our peers, but push ourselves beyond our benchmarks as well. Our objectives when we develop high-performance cars are to show the way forward and to set new standards. Every single time.

Based on 100-percent know-how and 100-percent passion, the Mercedes-Benz AMG models are a perfect example of just what Mercedes-AMG can achieve in terms of performance. In a manner that is hard to describe, yet so immediately obvious every time you get behind the wheel. This philosophy has produced a constant string of stunning AMG performers, every last detail proof of the sheer enthusiasm and total commitment of our design and development engineers.

The heart of every Mercedes-Benz AMG is its powerful engine. Based on the principle of "one man, one engine", highly qualified master technicians assemble each AMG engine at the Mercedes-AMG plant in Affalterbach.

Mercedes-AMG approaches every AMG vehicle with six specific themes in mind: handling ability, braking, acceleration, luxury, exclusivity and practicality. Whether it’s an E 63 AMG, an SLK 55 AMG, an SL 55 AMG or a CL 63 AMG, each AMG Mercedes is designed and manufactured for drivers who expect the ultimate performance from their automobiles.

Mercedes-AMG had its humble beginnings in what was little more than two garages at the Old Mill in Burgstall near Großaspach, Germany. That was in 1968, and a lot has changed since then. What hasn't changed is it’s total dedication to performance, quality and safety as well as the unwavering passion and personal involvement of their staff, which enable every Mercedes-Benz AMG vehicle to fulfill a driving enthusiast's driving passions.

Follow this timeline for an overview of Mercedes-AMG's proud history.

1967
Hans Werner Aufrecht and Erhard Melcher open up business in Großaspach. Their mission: to engineer, design and develop high-performance racing engines. Mercedes-AMG's headquarters is the Old Mill in Burgstall.

1971
Mercedes-AMG achieves its first motor sports success: a victory of the Mercedes-Benz AMG 300 SEL 6.9 at the 24-hour race at Belgium's Spa-Francorchamps circuit. Hans Heyer and Clemens Schickentanz place first in their class, with the Mercedes-Benz AMG finishing second overall.

1978
Now with 40 employees, the company outgrows the Old Mill in Burgstall and moves to Affalterbach.

1988
Mercedes-AMG begins its racing comeback, teaming up with Mercedes-Benz in the German Touring Car Championship.

1989
Mercedes-AMG is victorious in the German Touring Car Championship. Klaus Ludwig and Johnny Cecotto amass seven wins in the series.

1990
Plant in Affalterbach opens. Mercedes-AMG now has 400 employees and a contract with Daimler-Benz that extends beyond motor sports.

1992
Klaus Ludwig becomes German Touring Champion with
Mercedes-AMG.

1993
Mercedes-AMG reaps the first fruits of its affiliation with Daimler-Benz. Together, the companies develop the Mercedes C 36 AMG. Because of its broad renown, Mercedes-AMG is registered as a trademark.

1994
Klaus Ludwig once again becomes German Touring Champion with Mercedes-AMG.

1995
Mercedes-AMG wins the German Touring Championship for the third time in the history of the event and the ITC title in its first year. Champion of both series is Bernd Schneider.

1996
With Bernd Schneider at the wheel, Mercedes-AMG wins the co-championship of the International Touring Car Championship. Mercedes-AMG premieres the E 50 AMG at the Geneva Automobile Salon, marking Mercedes-AMG's evolution from pure assembly to assembly and manufacturing.

1997
Mercedes-AMG marks one manufacturing success after another, producing 5,000 C 36 AMGs and 2,000 E 50 AMGs and successfully launching successor models C 43 AMG and E 55 AMG following the IAA in Frankfurt. Bernd Schneider wins the championship for himself with the Mercedes CLK-GTR and the team championship for Mercedes-AMG.

1998
The street version of the CLK- GTR appears in a limited series of 25.
Mercedes-AMG wins all ten races in the FIA GT Championship. Klaus Ludwig and Ricardo Zonta win the championship title.

1999
Mercedes-AMG GmbH is founded. Dr. Wolfgang Bernhard is president, and Domingos Piedade is managing director.

In 1971, Mercedes-Benz AMG was preparing for its racing debut in the 24-hour endurance race at Belgium‘s Spa-Francorchamps circuit. The Mercedes-AMG team had prepared a Mercedes 300 SEL 6.9 for the event but it was severely damaged during practice just two weeks before race day.

Instead of Mercedes-AMG’s racing career being cut short, this signaled the beginning of the Mercedes-AMG success story. The completely demolished car was painstakingly taken apart and reassembled. The new drivers, Hans Heyer and Clemens Schickentanz, had barely enough time for a test drive. But the rest is history: Heyer and Schickentanz won their class and came in second overall.

The Mercedes-AMG team has since applied its passion, experience and technical know-how to take the pole position time and time again. From 1986 to 1993, the Mercedes-AMG 190E won 50 races in the German Touring Car Championship. From 1994 to 1996, the motorsport world witnessed 32 wins for the Mercedes-Benz AMG C-Class, plus two championship titles and two driver titles in the DTM and the ITC, one of the most grueling racing series in the world.

Since 1997, Mercedes-AMG production sports cars have emerged victorious in the FIA GT Championship, taking the championship in 1997 and 1998.

A lot of what Mercedes-Benz and Mercedes-AMG engineers know about high-end performance comes from their successful involvement and experience in racing. Innovations and know-how developed and tested on the racetrack benefit anybody who drives a Mercedes-Benz AMG.