Deutz AG

Deutz AG is an engine manufacturer, based in Cologne, Germany.

History

History

The company was founded in 1864 as N. A. Otto & Cie by Nikolaus Otto, inventor of the four-stroke internal combustion engine. In the early years, Otto and his partner Eugen Langen, were only interested in production of stationary engines, not in automobiles. In the middle of the 1870s, technical director Gottlieb Daimler, who was eager to produce automobiles, was transferred to the company's St. Petersburg factory to reduce his influence. He resigned, taking Wilhelm Maybach with him. Deutz also produced agricultural machines such as combine harvesters and tractors, as well as commercial vehicles such as lorries and buses.

Famous people who worked for Deutz include Eugen Langen, Gottlieb Daimler, Wilhelm Maybach, Prosper L'Orange, Rudolf Diesel, Robert Bosch and Ettore Bugatti.

During World War II, the company was ordered to produce artillery and operated under the name Klöckner Humboldt Deutz AG (KHD); both names have been, until recently, used since, even by the company itself. Commercial vehicles powered by Deutz engines were popular from 1960 to 1980, sold under the brand name Magirus Deutz.