In 1937, he was appointed department manager at the Junkers Aircraft Works in Dessau and developed combustion engines.

After the war, Elsbett set up an independent factory in Salzgitter for the production of a small two-stroke diesel engine.

In 1973, Elsbett gained international recognition for the first ever serial-produced direct-injection diesel engine for cars.

In 1980, Elsbett made the first conversion of standard diesel cars with prechamber engines to vegetable oil.

In 1993, the Elsbett Mercedes won the first Eco Tour of Europe with the lowest consumption of fuel.