Mercedes-Benz India has launched the locally produced EQS 580 4MATIC electric SUV, further expanding its Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV) lineup in the country. With this move, India becomes the first market outside the US to locally manufacture the seven-seater electric SUV, priced starting at Rs 1.41 crore.
This marks the second model, following the EQS sedan, to be produced at Mercedes-Benz’s Pune facility. Managing Director and CEO, Santosh Iyer, shared with reporters, “This is our sixth EV in India and the second model to be locally produced here. We’re proud to make India the first country outside the US to manufacture the EQS locally.”
In the first nine months of the year, Mercedes-Benz India has introduced three new BEVs—the EQA, EQS 580 SUV, and the Mercedes-Maybach EQS 680 SUV—adding to its robust electric vehicle lineup, which now includes the EQA, EQB, EQE SUV, EQS SUV, EQS sedan, and the Maybach EQS SUV 680.
Local production aligns with Mercedes-Benz’s commitment to driving electrification and offering more options to Indian customers, Iyer said. “Localising the EQS SUV underscores our dedication to growing the luxury electric car market in India and promoting a greener, sustainable future,” he noted. The initiative also supports the Indian government’s Make-in-India vision.
Iyer highlighted that local production has enabled more competitive pricing for the electric SUV. Speaking on the growing demand for electric vehicles, he noted that the acceptance of high-end EVs in India is increasing. “We’ve sold more than 500 units of the EQA sedan, which was launched in India about 18 months ago, despite its price exceeding Rs 1.6 crore. Today, EVs represent 5% of our total sales, and this number is rising,” he said.
He added that the company remains focused on offering premium electric vehicles with longer ranges, rather than pursuing lower-priced models, stating, “Introducing lower-priced products is not part of our current strategy.”
