Pune: Luxury, it seems, has found a permanent PIN code in India. Mercedes-Benz India has kicked off 2026 with a clear message to the global luxury car world: India is no longer just buying ultra-luxury—it’s building it.
In a landmark move, Mercedes-Benz announced local production of the Mercedes-Maybach GLS at its Pune facility, making India the first market outside the USA to manufacture this ultra-luxury SUV. Yes, the SUV that treats its rear seat like a private jet lounge will now proudly carry a ‘Made in India’ tag—without compromising an ounce of its champagne-chilling credibility.
Maybach Goes Local, Luxury Goes Faster
Since its India debut in 2021 as a CBU import, the Mercedes-Maybach GLS has been the choice of customers who believe traffic jams are best endured with massage seats, Burmester sound, and refrigerated champagne flutes. Local production now means shorter waiting periods, better availability, and reaffirmation of India’s position among Mercedes-Maybach’s Top 5 global markets.
Santosh Iyer, MD & CEO, Mercedes-Benz India, summed it up best: this isn’t just localisation—it’s confidence in India’s appetite for the very best.
Celebration Editions: Because Success Deserves Confetti
To mark the runaway success of its top-end SUVs, Mercedes-Benz launched:
- Mercedes-Maybach GLS Celebration Edition at ₹4.10 crore
- EQS SUV Celebration Edition at ₹1.34 crore (5-seat) and ₹1.48 crore (7-seat)
Think of these as victory laps—only quieter, electric, and wrapped in Nappa leather.
AMG on Fire, EVs on Charge
2025 proved that India likes its luxury in two flavours: very fast and very electric.
- AMG portfolio grew by 34%, driven by the AMG G63, CLE 53, and GLC 43
- BEVs now account for 20% of top-end Mercedes sales
- A striking 70% of Mercedes EVs sold in 2025 were priced between ₹1.25 crore and ₹3.10 crore
- The EQS SUV emerged as India’s highest-selling luxury BEV, with strong demand for the EQS Maybach SUV and the electric G580
Clearly, range anxiety has been replaced by range envy.
MB.CHARGE Public: Plug, Pay, Proceed
Mercedes-Benz also rolled out MB.CHARGE Public in India—one of the world’s largest integrated EV charging ecosystems.
- Access to 9,000+ DC fast chargers across India
- Integrated with the Mercedes-Benz app & RFID
- One ecosystem for finding chargers, authenticating, paying, and tracking history
- No extra cost for existing Mercedes-Benz EV customers
From Jio BP to ChargeZone, Zeon, and dealership chargers, Mercedes-Benz ensures your EV experience is premium—even when you’re just waiting for electrons.
Sales 2025: Value Over Volume, Star Over Everything
Despite marginally lower volumes (19,007 units in CY2025), Mercedes-Benz clocked its best-ever revenue year.
Key highlights:
- Top-End Vehicles (TEV) grew 11% YoY, contributing 25% of sales
- Sedans like the LWB E-Class and S-Class continued category domination
- SUVs—from GLA to Maybach GLS—kept demand robust
- Entry luxury saw a planned decline, aligning with Mercedes’ strategy of not chasing discounts, but desirability
2026 Roadmap: 12 New Cars, One Clear Direction
The year ahead looks busy—and beautifully expensive:
- 12 new launches, including new models and facelifts
- Many will be Top-End Vehicles and BEVs
- India debut of the CLA BEV with MB.OS
- 30 luxury touchpoints upgraded or added
- Introduction of ‘3 Clicks to Finance’ under the new ‘1 Customer Unit’ sales model
Because buying a Mercedes should be as seamless as driving one.
The Bigger Picture
With local Maybach production, EV leadership, a unified charging ecosystem, and relentless focus on top-end luxury, Mercedes-Benz isn’t just selling cars in India—it’s redefining what the Indian luxury market looks like.
