Bertha Benz – the wife and business partner of Mercedes-Benz founder, Carl – was one pioneering lady and to celebrate her life some 140 years ago, the German car marque has released a rather epic four-minute commemoration.
Coinciding with International Women’s Day, the spot celebrates Mrs Benz’s famed 106-kilometre journey in her husband’s brand new invention way back in 1888.
Benz set off with her two sons on a trip for Mannheim to Pforzheim, in part, to prove the merits of this brand new thing called an automobile. Her achievement is considered the first-ever long-distance car journey.
In fact, many people were so fraught and confused by their sighting of a car, they believed poor Mrs Benz to be a witch. And, as the spot depicts, even finding a petrol station when you’re the only car on the road is an achievement in itself.
The ad’s the work of Berlin agency Antoni and was directed by famed German ad director Sebastian Strasser who’s worked for Audi, Nissan, Volkswagen and IKEA. Check out the spot below:
