Originally known as the "Aircraft Engine Installation Company", Maybach was a subdivision of the airship manufacture, Luftschiffbau Zeppelin. Founded in nineteen hundred and nine, the company was the creation of Wilhalm Maybach, a German engine designer. His son was made the directory of the company, which mainly produced engines for the Zeppelins until nineteen nineteen.
A six cylinder inline engine, the Maybach Mb.IVa was used by the Germans for high altitude aircraft and airships during The First World War. The Mb.IVa was the more powerful of the three models produced, outputting two hundred and sixty break horse power. There were two additional models, one capable of two hundred and ten break horse power, and the other two hundred and forty break horse power. Maybach also produced engines for rail cars during this period.
The first production car was launched at the Berlin Motor Show of nineteen twenty one, and the company continued to produced cars for the next two decades whilst also manufacturing engines for sea and rail vehicles. As World War Two broke out, Maybach was again relied upon to the produce engines to aid the war effort. This time around Maybach produced the engines for Panther and Tiger tanks. The Panther was equipped with the V-12 petrol Maybach HL230 P30, and the Tiger with the Maybach HL230 P45 petrol engine.
The Mercedes Benz Maybach was unveiled during the Tokyo Motor Show, a luxury high powered vehicle which Mercedes Benz produced under the Maybach marque. At the turn of the millennium the Maybach 57 and the Maybach 62 were launched, with newer variations added to the line up a few years later.