Mercedes-Benz drives AMG S 63 E Performance, Maybach GLS 600 SUV into India

These rollouts reinforces German luxury carmaker's earlier plans to drive in more Top End Vehicles (TEVs) in India

With an aim to augment its portfolio in the top-end vehicle (TEV) segment, Mercedes Benz India has announced the launch of AMG S 63 E Performance ‘Edition 1’ at Rs. 3.3 crore and the Maybach GLS 600 SUV at Rs 3.35 crore (both ex-showroom, India).

While the AMG version of S Class will be imported from the luxury carmaker’s Affalterbach facility in Germany, the hi-performance SUV will be brought in from Alabama facility in the United States.

The Indian arm of the Stuttgart-based carmaker had earlier stated that nearly 25 percent of its sales came from Top End Vehicles (TEVs), which cost over Rs 1 crore and that includes S-Class Maybach limousine, GLS Maybach SUV, performance-oriented AMGs, S-Class and GLS models.

Santosh Iyer, Managing Director & CEO of Mercedes-Benz India,  said, “The customer preference for TEV reiterates the growing popularity for exclusive top-end luxury vehicles such as the GLS, Mercedes-Maybach, and
AMG range. TEV segment represents our key focus area and with these excusive models, we are  now offering our discerning Indian customers two highly desirable vehicles, from our global  portfolio..”

The Mercedes-AMG S 63 E Performance ‘Edition 1’ is equipped with a handcrafted AMG 4.0L V8 Biturbo engine and an electric motor, delivering a combined output of 802bhp.

On the other hand, the Maybach GLS 600 is powered by the M177 4.0-litre V8 engine, producing 555 bhp of maximum power and 770 Nm of torque and also features Integrated Starter Generator technology, providing an additional boost of 22 bhp and 250 Nm of torque whenever required.

The country's largest carmaker is looking at a majority of the volumes from tier cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Pune, Bangalore, Ahmedabad, Kolkata, Chennai and Vishakhapatnam.  Another company official indicated that it has already received a "good orderbank" of the SUV.

"We are looking at a double digit growth in our entire portfolio and hi-end cars will definitely give a quarter of our total sales," Lance Bennett, VP- sales and marketing, Mercedes-Benz India, told Moneycontrol. He stated that waiting period of models will be around six months.

With the launch of these models, the  German luxury carmaker has launched five models so far and is on course to launch another seven models, which will include more TEVs.

"Our plans were to launch 12 new vehicles and today we have launched the 4th and 5th models. There will be more top-end vehicles (getting launched) which will support the growth of this segment," added Bennett. He also revealed that there will three Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs), including EQS Maybach e-SUV.