German Luxury car maker Mercedes-Benz is set to begin local production of its Ultra-luxury SUV, the Mayback GLS, in India. With this move, India will become the only country outside the United states where this model will be locally assembled. Speaking to PTO on wednesday, Mercedes benz india managing director and chief executive officer santosh iyer said that India has emerged as one of the world’s top five markets for the maybach brand in 2025. He added that the strong demand for the ultra-luxury vehicles in the coutry has encouraged the company to expand its local manufacturing plans. this step is expected to strengthen mercedes-benz’s presence in India and make the maybach gls more accessible to luxury car buyers.
What Santosh Iyer said?
Santosh Iyer said that the GLS Maybach is the best-selling model under the mayback range in India. At present, the SUV is imported from mercedes benz’s tuscaloosa plant in Alabama, USA. he also explained that once local Production begins in India, the price of the GLS Maybach is expected to come down to around Rs. 2.75 crore, compared to the current price of Rs.3.17 crore.
Iyer also clarigied that starting local production in India does not mean the company will stop manufacturing the model in the united states. Production in the US will continue as usual. Assembly in India is only meant to meet the local market demand, he said. According to him, Strong customers interest in ultra-luxury vehicles has made an important market for the maybach brands. Local assembly will help mercedes-benz offer better pricing while strengthening its long-term presence in the Indian luxury car segment.
India has entered the top five global markets for maybach series luxiry cars, alongside china, the US, south korea, and germany. According to ayyar, mercedes-benz India plans to launch 12 new models this year as part of its 2026 strategy. However, the weakening of the rupee against the euro has increased costs, which is expected to keep growth in the luxury car market in the single digits.
Last year, Mercedes-Benz sold a total of 19,007 cars in India, slightly lower than in 2024. Despite the minor decline, India remains a key market for the brand’s premium and ultra luxury offerings. with the new models planned for 2026, the company aims to strengthen its presence and appeal to luxury car buyers. Rising costs may limit the rapid growth, but the demand for high end vehicles continues, keeping India among the most important markets for the global luxury car sales.
