 "Benz & Cie." had grown in the interim from 50 employees in 1889 to 430 in 1899.During the last years of the nineteenth century, "Benz" was the largest automobile company in the world with 572 units produced in 1899.Because of its size, in 1899, "Benz & Cie." became a joint-stock company with the arrival of Friedrich von Fischer and Julius Ganß, who came aboard as members of the Board of Management.