{"id":1059,"date":"2021-03-25T17:16:56","date_gmt":"2021-03-25T17:16:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.mwm.net\/?page_id=1059"},"modified":"2026-02-18T22:35:41","modified_gmt":"2026-02-18T20:35:41","slug":"mwm-history","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.mwm.net\/en\/mwm-history\/","title":{"rendered":"MWM History"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

Future Needs Tradition.<\/h2>\n

MWM can look back on a tradition 150 years old, always guided by a mindset of innovation. The foundation of the “Mechanische Werkst\u00e4tte” (Mechanical Workshop) by automobile pioneer Carl Benz in Mannheim in 1871 marked the dawn of the era of gas engines and the start of MWM. The enthusiasm and innovative drive of engineers from more than a dozen decades have continued to yield new developments and contributed to MWM becoming what it is today, one of the leading and most renowned brands in the field of gas engines and gensets<\/a>. Today, some 1,400 employees work at the Mannheim plant and other MWM locations. MWM thus continued to improve the output rating, efficiency and reliability of its systems, distributed from Mannheim throughout the globe today.<\/p>\n

150 Years of Engine Building in Mannheim<\/h2>\n

In 2021, MWM celebrated its 150th<\/sup> anniversary. To review the major milestones in the company’s history, various projects and campaigns were conducted on site in Mannheim for active and former MWM employees, customers, and distributors as part of the anniversary marketing campaign.<\/p>\n

100 Years MWM Brand<\/h2>\n

In 2022, MWM celebrated its 100th<\/sup> brand anniversary. To draw attention to this special event in the company’s history, an anniversary website<\/a> has been released with historical milestones, personal moments of MWM employees, customers, and distributors, and a monthly brand quiz.<\/p>\n

Origin of the Traditional Brand<\/h2>\n

In 1922, Benz & Cie. sold its Stationary Engine Building department. After the sale was finalized under a spin-off agreement, the stationary engine production became independent from Benz & Cie. on April 22, 1922 and started operating under the name “Motoren-Werke Mannheim A.-G. vorm. Benz, Abt. station\u00e4rer Motorenbau”. A year later, on January 22, 1923, “Motoren-Werke Mannheim A.-G.” applied to the Imperial Patent Office for registration of the trademark\u2014the first official MWM trademark.<\/p>\n

\n

Historic Moments and Key People Behind the MWM Brand<\/h3>\n
\n
\n

Under the motto “150 years of continuous innovation”, noteworthy historic moments, developments, and key people behind the MWM brand were introduced in weekly posts in the MWM LinkedIn and Facebook channels. The online community of the MWM social media channels especially liked the photographs and pictures of the old MWM engines, portable engines, and motorized horses.<\/p>\n

\"Historic<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Video “150 Years of Innovation: MWM \u2013 How Everything Started”<\/h3>\n
\n
\n

Another major project in the context of the 150th<\/sup> anniversary was the implementation and production of the video “150 Years of Innovation: MWM \u2013 How Everything Started”. The 15-minute film tells the story and development of the traditional brand. Filming locations included the company premises in Mannheim and the Dr. Carl Benz automobile museum in Ladenburg. Apart from the statements of a historian, the film also features the comments of two former MWM employees.<\/p>\n

Download Video: EN<\/a> | DE<\/a> | RU<\/a> | CN<\/a>
\n(16 minutes, HD, 1.82 GB, MP4)<\/p>\n

All language versions of the video on YouTube: EN<\/a> | DE<\/a> | RU<\/a> | CN<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

The Brand Anniversary Book: “150 Years of Continuous Innovation”<\/h3>\n
\n
\n

On the occasion of the grand anniversary, a book recounting the history and evolution of the MWM brand was also released in 2021. On about 100 pages, the high-quality hardcover book describes how the MWM brand came into existence and how it developed over the decades. Now available for purchase via the MWM web shop, the book was written by Norbert Eisinger, who worked for the company for many years and authored numerous MWM publications and is therefore considered an expert in the field of historical engine building.<\/p>\n

\"MWM<\/p>\n

Purchase the book: EN<\/a> |\u00a0DE<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Through Mannheim with the Tram in “MWM Blue”<\/h3>\n
\n
\n

A tram with the MWM motifs and the slogan “150 Jahre Erfindergeist aus Mannheim” (150 Years of Inventive Genius from Mannheim) was in use on the entire route network of Rhein-Neckar-Verkehr GmbH (rnv) in Mannheim and neighboring cities.<\/p>\n

<\/div><\/div>
<\/div>
<\/div>
<\/div><\/div><\/div>