by In the world of automobiles, where fierce competition reigns, moments of genuine respect sometimes occur. This is exactly how Porsche decided to mark the 140th anniversary of Carl Benz receiving the patent for the first automobile, taking an unusual step.
A Tribute from Porsche on Social Media
On January 29, 1886, Carl Benz received a patent for his “Motorwagen,” an invention that forever changed the world and ushered in the era of personal mobility. To mark the anniversary of this event, Porsche momentarily set aside rivalry and published a touching congratulatory post on its Instagram page, dedicated to Mercedes-Benz.
Instead of the usual banter between brands, the German manufacturer honored the shared Stuttgart heritage, joint victories in motorsport, and engineering partnerships with Mercedes, creating a rare moment of mutual respect between the two legendary marques.
The message appeared in parts on Porsche’s official account, accompanied by images of Mercedes cars. It contained the following words:
“Dear Mercedes Benz, we share not only a passion, we share the foundation seen by our pioneer, we share our hometown. We share the love of motorsport, we share the feeling of victory in the greatest races. We share failures, we share the same friends.”
Porsche then reminded about a joint project:
“We even share the legendary E 500. But most importantly, we share the same belief: that cars exist to move not only our bodies but also our hearts. For 140 years of the automobile and many other shared moments.”
Mercedes appreciated this gesture and replied in the comments: “Thank you for the kind words, Porsche! To a future of constant innovation, always striving for the best – each in our own unique way.”
Reaction from Other Automakers
Other car companies also seized the opportunity to congratulate Mercedes-Benz on the anniversary. Audi, Cadillac, Volvo, Xiaomi, Nio, XPeng, Geely, and Li Auto shared celebratory messages, although some of these greetings appeared on the Chinese social platform Weibo rather than on Instagram.
BMW, one of Mercedes’ oldest competitors, also did not stay aside. Their message, as always, contained a slight irony: “Fortunately, Carl Benz invented the car so we could invent the joy of driving,” they wrote, accompanying the text with a photo of a smiling Benz. The last slide in their Instagram carousel contained a direct celebratory wish next to an image of the BMW iX3.
Interestingly, Mercedes-Benz Japan itself also marked the event, publishing a post in Japanese on X (formerly Twitter) that spoke about the beginning of the history of modern mobility and the promise of a new chapter in the brand’s automotive history.
Such gestures in an industry that thrives on competition always attract attention. They remind us that behind the brands are people united by a common history, technical excellence, and a love for cars. This was not just a marketing move, but a manifestation of genuine respect for shared roots and achievements that shaped not only the German but the entire global automotive industry. Such moments unite the community of enthusiasts and show that progress is often born from respect for the past and colleagues, even if they are rivals in the market.
