Mercedes-Benz to locally manufacture Maybach S 500

The S 500’s V8 is mated to a 9-speed 9G-Tronic automatic… While the Maybach S500will be locally manufactured at Mercedes’ pune facility, its bigger brother, the Maybach S600 will be a CBU unite, which justifies the high price point.

Between them, these four carmakers almost control the 33,000 units a year luxury vehicle market in the country. The Mercedes-Maybach is distinguished by extra spaciousness with lavishly designed, prestigious interiors that offer extensive scope for individualisation. Mercedes plans on increasing its consumer base in India.

Folger comes from Mercedes’ Malaysian operations and will take charge from October 1. “It is meant for customers who seek prestige and status”, he said. Ltd introduced models from the super luxury Maybach stable for the Indian market in Pune on Friday.

The company had said that it would roll out 15 models this year after having done 14 in 2014. “Mercedes-Maybach is one of the most technologically advanced products and its local production reflects the highest level of refinement and implementation of advanced technology and flexible processes in our manufacturing process”. Recently, it inaugurated its second assembly line at the plant located at Chakan near here, with 10,000-unit capacity and built at an investment of Rs 1,000 crore. At this pricing, this becomes the costliest locally assembled vehicle in the country. It is an exclusive sub-brand catering to a completely different segment.

The Maybach brand, which shut down in 2011 after nearly a decade of losses, makes a comeback as a sub-brand this time around (in the same vein as the AMG) and cements itself as double-barrel surname into the Mercedes family. Rear seat passengers also get seatbelt airbags in addition to deployable tables, a 1,540 Watt 24-speaker Burmester 3D surround sound system, a panoramic roof and a rear entertainment system. Rear passengers benefit from the increased length with standard equipment that includes executive seats on both left and right and other exclusive details such as innovative voice amplification.