Editing Maybach (section)

==1909–1940: Early history==
Wilhelm Maybach was the technical director of the ''[[Daimler-Motoren-Gesellschaft]]'' (DMG) until he left in 1907. On 23 March 1909, he founded the new company, ''Luftfahrzeug-Motorenbau GmbH'' (literally "Aircraft Engine Building Company"), with his son [[Karl Maybach]] as director.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Focus on the Marque: Maybach |url=https://issuu.com/vintagecarclubofnewzealand/docs/13_progress_june_2023/s/25844886 |access-date=2024-12-27 |website=Issuu |language=en}}</ref> In 1912, they renamed it to ''Maybach-Motorenbau GmbH'' ("Maybach Engine Construction Company").<!-- sourced in [[Wilhelm Maybach]] --> The company originally developed and manufactured diesel and petrol engines for [[Zeppelin]]s, and then rail cars. Its [[Maybach Mb.IVa]] was used in aircraft and airships of World War I.

The company first built an experimental car in 1919, introduced as a production model two years later at the Berlin Motor Show. Between 1921 and 1940, the company produced a variety of opulent vehicles, now regarded as classics. The company also continued to build heavy-duty diesel engines for marine and rail purposes.

Maybach had a British subsidiary, Maybach Gears Ltd., that specialised in gearboxes. In 1938, in conjunction with Dr Henry Merritt, they produced a gearbox and steering system – the 'Merritt-Maybach' – for the abortive Nuffield A.16E1 [[Cruiser tank]] design.<ref>David Fletcher, David Wiley, et al., "Workshop Manual: Tiger Tank Panzerkampfwagen VI Ausf. E (Sd.Kfz. 181)", [[Haynes Manual|Haynes]] in conjunction with [[The Tank Museum]], 2011, p. 19.</ref>