Mercedes-Benz India has achieved a major global milestone by becoming the first market outside the United States to start local production of the ultra-luxury Mercedes-Maybach GLS at its Pune manufacturing facility. The move highlights India's growing importance for the German luxury carmaker and underlines the company's strong confidence in the country's appetite for top-end luxury vehicles.
The localization has enabled a significant price reduction of ₹42 lakh, with the locally assembled model now retailing at ₹2.75 crore compared to the previous import price of ₹3.17 crore, as confirmed by Santosh Iyer, Managing Director and CEO of Mercedes-Benz India. "The decision to start the local production of the Mercedes-Maybach GLS reiterates Mercedes-Benz's deep commitment to the Indian customers, offering the pinnacle of luxury SUV, 'Made in India'," Iyer said.
Since its debut in June 2021, the Mercedes-Maybach GLS was sold in India as a CBU (completely built unit). The shift to local assembly is expected to improve availability and reduce the waiting periods for the luxury SUV, making it more accessible to Indian customers. India has entered the top five global markets for Mercedes-Maybach for the first time, according to the company.
The India-spec Mercedes-Maybach GLS is powered by a 4.0L twin-turbo V8 petrol engine paired with a 48V mild-hybrid system. The powertrain produces 557PS of power and 770Nm of torque, with an additional 22hp boost from the electric motor. Power is sent to all four wheels via a 9-speed torque converter automatic transmission, enabling the luxury SUV to sprint from 0-100kmph in 4.9 seconds before reaching an electronically limited top speed of 250kmph.
The premium SUV features a massive Maybach grille with chrome slats and 23-inch forged alloy wheels. Key interior highlights include dual 12.3-inch screens on the dashboard, two 11.6-inch displays for rear passengers, and a first-class rear cabin layout with individual seats. Additional luxury amenities comprise executive console, massaging and ventilated seats, a 29-speaker Burmester 3D surround sound system, e-Active body control suspension, and a 9.6-litre refrigerated compartment.
The Maybach GLS Celebration Edition is priced at ₹4.10 crore and sits at the top-of-the-line with exclusive cosmetic enhancements inside and out, as reported by CarDekho. The special edition brings a business-class experience in its second row with two individual seats, a full-length centre console, and rear entertainment screens. Additional premium features include an armrest integrated refrigerator to chill drinks on the go and exclusive glass holders in the console. Buyers can further customize the Celebration Edition by opting for dual-tone paint and exclusive leather packages for enhanced opulence.
Mercedes-Benz India delivered 19,007 luxury cars in 2025, marking its best-ever year in terms of revenue despite being marginally lower than the 19,565 units sold in 2024. The sales decline is attributed to lower entry-level luxury car sales, which the company says aligns with its strategy of not compromising product substance or participating in price competition.
The Top-End Vehicles portfolio, priced upward of ₹1.5 crore and comprising the S-Class, Mercedes-Maybach models and AMG cars, showed strong resilience and grew 11% year-on-year, accounting for 25% of total sales and reflecting rising demand for ultra-luxury vehicles in India. The high-performance AMG portfolio performed particularly well, registering a sharp 34% growth, led by models like the AMG G63, AMG CLE53, and AMG GLC43. However, the entry luxury segment declined 20% year-over-year, falling to 13% of overall volumes.
Mercedes-Benz India's electric vehicle business maintained its growth momentum in 2025, with the battery electric vehicle portfolio growing 12% year-on-year. The electric vehicle segment accounted for 20% of all top-end Mercedes-Benz cars sold in the country. Notably, 70% of the electric vehicles sold during the year belonged to the top-end segment, priced between ₹1.25 crore and ₹3.1 crore. These included models such as the EQS SUV, EQS Sedan, Mercedes-Maybach EQS SUV and the Mercedes-Benz G580, with the EQS SUV remaining the company's highest-selling luxury electric vehicle in India.
To celebrate the milestone sales achievement of over 19,000 units in 2025, Mercedes has also introduced a Celebration Edition of the EQS SUV alongside the Maybach GLS, as reported by CarDekho.
Mercedes-Benz plans 12 new product introductions for India in 2026, including new models and some with no predecessor, in addition to launching facelifts. Many of these products will be Top End Vehicles (TEV) and new BEVs, indicating continued expansion of its portfolio in the Indian market.
"We have delivered another best-ever year in terms of revenue growth buoyed by high affinity amongst discerning customers, reflected in the strong growth in the TEV segment as well in top-end BEVs…2026 will be an action-packed year with 12 new product introductions, expansion of our local production portfolio, the launch of the MB.Charge Public, expansion into new markets and investment in upgrading our entire network," said Santosh Iyer.
Mercedes-Benz launched the MB.Charge Public service, providing access to over 9,000 DC charging points across India through partnerships with operators including Jio BP, Chargezone, Chargemod, and Zeon. The service, available at no extra cost to existing electric vehicle customers, integrates charging point location, availability, and payment in a single platform.
