Mercedes-Benz has commenced the assembly of its EQS SUV at its Chakan facility, located near Pune in Maharashtra, marking a significant step in the company’s operations in India. This facility is now the second location, alongside the main plant in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, where the full-size electric SUV is manufactured.
The EQS SUV is being assembled in the 580 4MATIC variant using imported knocked-down kits, allowing Mercedes-Benz to capitalize on minor localization to reduce import duties and offer a more competitive price in the Indian luxury car market, which remains relatively small compared to the US and Europe.
The EQS SUV 580 4MATIC is priced at 14.1 million rupees (approximately €151,000), while the imported Maybach EQS SUV 680 is available for 22.5 million rupees (around €241,000). Notably, the price difference between these two models in India is considerably narrower than in Germany, where the gap is less than €53,000.
Globally, the EQS SUV 580 4MATIC is available in both five- and seven-seat configurations; however, only the seven-seat version will be offered in India. The vehicle is equipped with dual motors that generate 400 kW and 858 Nm of torque, enabling it to accelerate from 0 to 100 kph in just 4.7 seconds, with a top speed of 210 kph.
It features a 122 kWh (net) battery pack that provides an ARAI-rated range of 809 km. Santosh Iyer, Managing Director and CEO of Mercedes-Benz India, noted that real-world testing around Pune indicated a range of 650+ km.
Customers can recharge the battery at a rate of 200 kW, adding up to 260 km of range in just 15 minutes. The Chakan plant operates exclusively on green energy, as stated by Vyankatesh Kulkarni, Executive Director and Head of Operations in India. This facility assembles both internal combustion engine (ICE) models and electric vehicles on the same production line.
In addition to the EQS SUV, the Chakan plant also assembles the EQS sedan in the 580 4MATIC variant, with over 500 units sold since its launch in September 2022. While the company offers the EQS AMG 53 4MATIC+ variant, it is sold as a significantly more expensive completely built unit (CBU).
With the introduction of the EQS SUV, Mercedes-Benz has expanded its electric vehicle portfolio in India to six models. The automaker is also focusing on enhancing the electric vehicle ownership experience by developing an independent charging network, which currently includes over 100 AC chargers and 40 DC chargers with capacities ranging from 60-200 kW. Iyer announced plans to add ten more DC chargers by the end of this year, further supporting the growing electric vehicle market in India.
