BRABUS GmbH, founded 1977 in Bottrop (Ruhr Area), Germany, is a high-performance aftermarket tuning company which specializes in Mercedes-Benz, Smart and Maybach vehicles. Brabus became the largest Mercedes tuner, other than Mercedes-AMG which became a DaimlerChrysler affiliate in the 1990s.
The company began with Bodo Buschmann wanting to customize his cars, but discovered most existing customizers could not meet his thought or requirement, so he decided to start his own brand. After Buschmann had decided to start his own brand, BRABUS GmbH was originally registered in 1977 at Germany with Buschmann's friend Klaus Brackman because German law required a company must be established with at least two people. The company name was derived from the first three characters of the founders' surnames (Brackman, Buschmann). Following the company's foundation, Brackman did not show interests in modifying vehicles or running a business, so he sold his company shares to Buschmann for 100 euros.
In 2012, BRABUS GmbH had started building its third factory in Bottrop.