Mercedes-Benz Adelaide is a premium car dealership located a short distance West from the Adelaide city centre. The origins of Mercedes-Benz Adelaide goes back to 1950, when the company was known as British Engineering Appliances. At the time, the company held the franchise for the now long disappeared Jowett range of cars, as well as Mercedes-Benz and subsequently, Renault and DKW. The first Mercedes-Benz to appear in South Australia was the 170V, a pre-war design running with a diesel engine. By 1953 the need was seen for a name change to reflect more accurately the business identity of the company, hence the name B.E.A. Distributors Limited representing "British European & American" Manufacturers was adopted and which was later abbreviated to simply B.E.A. Motors Pty. Ltd.