The History of Brabus Brand2 photos

Klaus Brackmann and Bodo Buschmann founded a Mercedes dealership in 1977 and later began pondering how to add something unique to their business. The idea was simple yet brilliant: they would focus on advanced tuning—not just superficial modifications like adding fancy accessories or carbon fiber hoods, but thorough overhauls that affected every aspect of the car. Thus, Brabus was born, its name combining the creators' surnames. The concept was straightforward: take a Mercedes and improve it as much as possible, resulting in something truly luxurious.

The already expensive cars became even more exorbitantly so. Their exterior design was refined, the engines enhanced (some Brabus models even set world speed records for their classes), and the interiors were completely redone. Customers could also opt for additional accessories and high-quality audio systems. Of course, those with more substantial means could afford even more luxurious options. The process was simple: the customer came to the office, specified their requirements, and Brabus experts would then purchase the desired Mercedes model from Daimler and custom-build it by hand.

Since 1999, Brabus has been a subsidiary of Daimler AG. Initially, only Mercedes models were tuned, but in 2002, smart-BRABUS GmbH was established to work on the small Smart cars. In 2008, an experiment was conducted with the Tesla Roadster, resulting in the first ever tuned electric vehicle: the Brabus Tesla Roadster. This tuning involved a system that mimicked the sounds of gasoline-powered sports cars.

As an electric car, the Tesla Roadster is very quiet, which might not appeal to those who want a car that draws attention. However, in addition to simulated gasoline engine noises, it also features futuristic sounds designed to please science fiction enthusiasts. Brabus is headquartered in the German city of Bottrop, where its original Mercedes dealership was located. The company has a small staff of just a few hundred people.