Mercedes-Benz Brings ‘140 Years. 140 Places.’ Global S-Class Journey To India
- Team Autopunditz
- 17 minutes ago
- 5 min read
Mercedes-Benz India will host the India leg of its global “140 Years. 140 Places.” celebration drive in July 2026, marking 140 years since Carl Benz filed the patent for the world’s first automobile in 1886.
Mercedes-Benz is bringing one of its most ambitious global brand journeys to India. The luxury carmaker has announced that its “140 Years. 140 Places.” transcontinental drive will enter India in July 2026, with three Mercedes-Benz S-Class luxury limousines travelling across key cultural, historic and geographical destinations in the country.
The global journey celebrates 140 years of automotive innovation, tracing the legacy of Mercedes-Benz as the inventor of the automobile. The initiative involves three new S-Class sedans named Gottlieb, Carl and Bertha, which have already travelled across Europe, South America, North America, South-East Asia, Australia and New Zealand before heading to India.
A Global Journey Covering Six Continents
The “140 Years. 140 Places.” drive is not just a ceremonial road trip. It is a large-scale global campaign designed to showcase Mercedes-Benz’s heritage, engineering progress and worldwide customer connect.
As part of the tour, the three S-Class cars are covering:
Over 60,000 km
More than 55 countries
Six continents
A total of 140 symbolic locations worldwide
The journey commemorates the year 1886, when Carl Benz filed the patent for the first automobile. Mercedes-Benz is using the anniversary to underline its journey from the first motor car to today’s luxury, safety, technology and electric mobility leadership.
Why India Is Important For The Journey
India has been chosen as a key chapter in this global journey because of its cultural diversity, architectural richness, fast-changing mobility landscape and growing relevance in the luxury car market.
According to Mercedes-Benz India, the India leg will capture stories of people, culture, craftsmanship, aspiration and progress. The S-Class will act as the brand’s flagship ambassador, travelling through destinations that represent India’s heritage as well as its modern ambitions.
Santosh Iyer, Managing Director & CEO, Mercedes-Benz India, said that India’s tradition, cultural heritage, technological innovation and rapid progress strongly resemble the S-Class’ own distinguished journey over the decades.
India Route: Himalayas, Heritage Cities, Metros And Coastal Landscapes
The India leg of the “140 Years. 140 Places.” journey will be split across routes named after Mercedes-Benz pioneers - Gottlieb, Carl and Bertha.
Gottlieb Route: North India, Himalayas And Bhutan
The Gottlieb route will begin from New Delhi, a city that blends heritage, modernity and India’s evolving luxury landscape. From there, the S-Class will move towards Amritsar, Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh.
A major highlight of this route will be the drive through some of the world’s most dramatic mountain roads, including Umling La, widely known as the highest motorable pass on earth. The route will also include challenging passes around Manali, showcasing the S-Class’ comfort, refinement and engineering capability in extreme conditions.
The journey will then descend towards India’s cultural heartland, covering Lucknow, Varanasi and Patna. These destinations are known for craftsmanship, spirituality, artistry and deep-rooted traditions. The route will also include Bhutan as the only international leg within the India chapter before returning to Delhi.
Carl And Bertha Route: West, South And Coastal India
The Carl and Bertha cars will travel west and south from New Delhi, covering Agra, Jaipur, Udaipur and Ahmedabad. These cities represent India’s royal heritage, architectural excellence and traditional craftsmanship.
The journey will then move to Pune, which is especially significant for Mercedes-Benz India as it houses the company’s manufacturing facility at Chakan.
From Pune, the two S-Class cars will take separate paths. One will head towards the cosmopolitan energy of Mumbai, while the other will travel towards Hampi, one of India’s most iconic heritage landscapes. The two routes will then reunite in Bengaluru, a city that plays a key role in Mercedes-Benz’s technology and research presence in India.
The journey will continue towards Goa and finally conclude in Mumbai, capturing India’s western coastline and its mix of culture, landscape and modern progress.
S-Class: The Flagship Symbol Of Mercedes-Benz Innovation
The choice of the S-Class for this journey is significant. For decades, the Mercedes-Benz S-Class has represented the peak of the brand’s luxury, comfort, safety and technology capabilities.
From advanced safety systems to high-end cabin comfort and seamless technology integration, the S-Class has often served as a preview of innovations that later move into other segments. For Mercedes-Benz, the S-Class remains a symbol of its promise of innovation and effortless luxury.
In the context of this global tour, the S-Class is being positioned as a rolling
representation of Mercedes-Benz’s 140-year journey - from the invention of the automobile to the future of mobility.
Mercedes-Benz India: 30 Years And Growing
Mercedes-Benz India completed 30 years of operations in 2024 and continues to be one of the most important luxury carmakers in the country.
The company’s production facility at Chakan near Pune is spread across 100 acres and has an investment of over ₹3,000 crore. Mercedes-Benz India also has one of the largest luxury car retail networks in the country, with over 140 touchpoints across more than 50 cities.
The brand’s India portfolio includes locally produced models such as the A-Class, C-Class, E-Class Long Wheelbase, S-Class, Mercedes-Maybach S 580, V-Class and multiple SUVs including the GLA, GLC, GLE and GLS. Mercedes-Benz India is also active in the luxury electric vehicle space, with models such as the EQS sedan, EQS SUV and Maybach EQS SUV.
AutoPunditz Take
The “140 Years. 140 Places.” India journey is less about product marketing and more about brand storytelling. Mercedes-Benz is using the S-Class to connect its global heritage with India’s cultural and geographical diversity.
For the Indian luxury car market, this campaign also reinforces the growing importance of experiential branding. In a segment where buyers look beyond specifications and pricing, heritage, craftsmanship, exclusivity and emotional connect play a major role.
By taking the S-Class through the Himalayas, heritage cities, industrial hubs, technology centres and coastal regions, Mercedes-Benz is trying to position its flagship not just as a luxury sedan, but as a symbol of progress and aspiration.
The India leg of this journey also comes at a time when Mercedes-Benz continues to lead the luxury car space in the country, while simultaneously expanding its presence in EVs, SUVs and high-end performance models.
Key Highlights
Mercedes-Benz will bring its “140 Years. 140 Places.” global journey to India in July 2026.
The campaign celebrates 140 years since Carl Benz filed the patent for the first automobile in 1886.
Three new Mercedes-Benz S-Class sedans named Gottlieb, Carl and Bertha are part of the global drive.
The journey has covered over 60,000 km across six continents and more than 55 countries.
The India leg will cover destinations including Delhi, Amritsar, Jammu, Ladakh, Lucknow, Varanasi, Patna, Agra, Jaipur, Udaipur, Ahmedabad, Pune, Mumbai, Hampi, Bengaluru, Goa and Bhutan.
The S-Class will act as the flagship symbol of Mercedes-Benz innovation, comfort, safety and luxury.