Mercedes-Benz India has expanded its electric vehicle lineup with the launch of the locally produced EQS 580 4MATIC SUV. India is the first country outside the US to manufacture this seven-seater electric SUV. The EQS SUV, following the EQS sedan, is now produced at Mercedes’ Pune facility.
The EQS SUV 580 4MATIC is the second vehicle, after the EQS sedan, to be produced locally at the company’s manufacturing plant in Pune. “This marks our sixth electric vehicle in India, and the second one to be produced locally. We are also proud that India is the first market outside the US to manufacture the EQS,” said Santosh Iyer, Managing Director and CEO of Mercedes-Benz India, in an interview with PTI.
He added that local production of the vehicle highlights the company’s commitment to electrification and expanding its product range, offering more choices to customers. “The localisation of the EQS SUV emphasizes our strong commitment to the growth of India’s luxury electric car market and reinforces our efforts for a greener and more sustainable future,” Iyer said.
He also noted that the move supports the government’s Make-in-India initiative. Iyer mentioned that local production has provided a considerable advantage in terms of pricing the electric SUV. The EQS SUV 580 4MATIC is priced at an introductory Rs 1.41 crore, a price point that is expected to encourage faster adoption of EVs among customers, he said.
Regarding the demand for electric vehicles, Iyer pointed out that EV sales are on the rise in India, with even premium models gaining traction. “The EQA sedan, which was launched in India about 18 months ago, has sold over 500 units, despite being priced above Rs 1.6 crore. Our total EV penetration is currently 5 percent, and it’s growing. Customer acceptance is certainly there,” he remarked.
Iyer emphasized the company’s focus on delivering high-end luxury EVs with extended range, even though there might be opportunities in the entry-level EV segment. “Offering products at lower price points is not part of our current strategy,” he said.
He added that their products are designed with a higher driving range, which often requires larger batteries and leads to higher costs. The EQS SUV 580 4MATIC is India’s longest-range electric SUV, with an ARAI-certified range of 809 kilometers.
Iyer also reaffirmed the company’s commitment to the Indian market, mentioning an additional Rs 200 crore investment announced earlier for manufacturing operations, new product launches, and digitalisation of production processes.
So far, the company has invested over Rs 3,000 crore in India, he added. From January to September this year, Mercedes-Benz India has introduced three new battery electric vehicles — the EQA, EQS SUV 580, and Mercedes-Maybach EQS 680 SUV. With the launch of the EQS SUV 580 4MATIC, the company now offers the EQA, EQB, EQE SUV, EQS SUV, EQS sedan, and the Maybach EQS SUV 680 in the market.
