Carmaker donates Benz Patent-Motorwagen replica to Indonesia National Museum to commemorate the golden anniversary.
Mercedes-Benz has a long-standing history in Indonesia, Southeast Asia’s largest nation. In 1894, the first motor vehicle to be driven around the island of Java was the Benz Victoria Phaeton, owned by the Sultan of Solo, Pakoe Boewono X. Since then, Mercedes-Benz has become the leading luxury automotive brand in Indonesia.
This year, Mercedes-Benz marks its 50th anniversary and as part of the celebrations the first motor vehicle – the Benz Patent-Motorwagen replica was donated to Museum Nasional Indonesia – the Indonesia National Museum – in Jakarta.
“We are thrilled to donate an original replica of the first motor car in the world, the Benz Patent-Motorwagen to the Museum Nasional Indonesia. Mercedes-Benz has played an important role in the history of mobility in Indonesia as the first motorcar in Indonesia was a Benz.
“With this donation, we support the Museum Nasional Indonesia on its mission to educate about Indonesia’s territory and its history. Therefore, we are proud, as we celebrate 50 years of Mercedes-Benz in Indonesia, to contribute to the museum and its efforts in the field of education and culture of transportation,” says Choi Duk Jun, President Director, PT Mercedes-Benz Distribution Indonesia.
PT Mercedes-Benz Indonesia got its start in 1970 in Indonesia as PT Star Motors Indonesia – a joint venture between between PT Daimler-Benz AG and PT Gading Mas. In the same year, an assembly plant of PT German Motor Manufacturing was constructed for the production of Daimler-Benz products. As the company grew, Mercedes-Benz began operations at a local assembly facility in Wanaherang, Bogor, West Java in 1982. The facility is currently the location of PT Mercedes-Benz Indonesia and PT Daimler Commercial Vehicles Manufacturing Indonesia and it locally assembles the carmaker’s passengers cars and bus chassis.
“We are very proud to be part of today’s ceremony that starts the celebration of 50 years of Mercedes-Benz in Indonesia. Ever since the first Mercedes-Benz commercial vehicles were assembled in the factory in Indonesia, back then the Mercedes-Benz L 911 in Tanjung Priok, Jakarta, our company has been part of contributing to the industrialization in Indonesia. Moreover, we are on a journey together on public transportation with our buses,” added Jung-Woo Park, President Director, PT Daimler Commercial Vehicles Indonesia.