ABOUT 16 MILES east of Stuttgart lies the town of Schorndorf. It’s picturesque yet unremarkable, typical of what is now a wine-producing area, with the old market square surrounded by quaint, half-timbered buildings, and a gently bustling feel as Baden-Württembergers go about their shopping or take some shelter from the spring sun at one of the many coffee shops and bars.
One single building is of particular note, and that’s the birthplace of a visionary: Gottlieb Daimler. When the engineering company started by Daimler in 1890 merged with that of Karl Benz in 1926, the foundations were laid for the modern car manufacturer we now know as Mercedes-Benz.
‘This is where it started. A protestant need to survive in a poor area,’ says Marcus Breitschwerdt, head of Mercedes-Benz Heritage, as we pass a bust of Daimler on our way up the steps and over the threshold. ‘This is a very traditional house, probably built in the 1700s. Daimler was born here in 1834; his father was a baker and his
