Mercedes-Benz begins India leg of Global ‘140 Years. 140 Places.’ S-Class Expedition

Mercedes-Benz has announced the commencement of the India leg of its much-anticipated ‘140 Years. 140 Places.’ transcontinental drive, an extraordinary global initiative featuring three Mercedes-Benz S-Class luxury limousines travelling across the world.

The unique expedition commemorates 140 years of innovation since Carl Benz filed the patent for the world’s first automobile in Germany in 1886. Celebrating Mercedes-Benz as the inventor of the automobile, the anniversary initiative honours the brand’s enduring legacy while reaffirming its future ambition to create the world’s most desirable cars and shape the future of mobility.

As part of this landmark global programme, three new S-Class luxury limousines, named Gotlieb, Carl and Bertha, are currently undertaking an epic transcontinental journey spanning more than 60,000 kilometres across six continents and over 55 countries. Along the way, the trio will visit 140 symbolic destinations worldwide, highlighting Mercedes-Benz’s culture-shaping influence, pioneering technological achievements, unmatched heritage, engineering excellence and global presence that continue to inspire customer trust and loyalty.

For the India chapter of the expedition, the ‘140 Years. 140 Places.’ journey will celebrate the people, culture, craftsmanship and aspirations that define the nation. Travelling through some of India’s most remarkable destinations, the Mercedes-Benz S-Class will serve as the brand’s flagship ambassador of innovation and progress on four wheels.

The India drive will showcase the country’s diverse landscapes, communities, traditions, experiences and ideas through a series of carefully curated engagements across the route. Together, the three S-Class luxury limousines will traverse two distinct routes, each named after Mercedes-Benz pioneers Gotlieb, Carl and Bertha, collectively capturing the richness of India’s geography, heritage and craftsmanship.

The Gotlieb route will begin in New Delhi, a city where heritage seamlessly meets modernity while reflecting India’s evolving luxury landscape. From there, the journey will continue to the historic city of Amritsar before travelling through Jammu and into the spectacular landscapes of Kashmir and Ladakh.

One of the defining highlights of this route will see the Mercedes-Benz S-Class tackle some of the world’s most breathtaking mountain roads across the Himalayas, including Umling La, recognised as the highest motorable pass on Earth, alongside the challenging mountain passes around Manali. The route has been designed to underscore the comfort, refinement and engineering capability that have established the S-Class as a benchmark in luxury motoring across generations.

Thereafter, the expedition will descend into India’s cultural heartland, covering Lucknow, Varanasi and Patna—cities renowned for their spirituality, artistry, craftsmanship and enduring traditions. The journey will then extend into Bhutan, marking the only international leg of the India route, before returning to New Delhi for its conclusion.

Meanwhile, Carl and Bertha will head west and south from New Delhi, travelling together through Agra, Jaipur, Udaipur and Ahmedabad. Each of these destinations has been chosen for its architectural splendour, royal legacy, refined craftsmanship and artistic heritage before the convoy reaches Pune, one of India’s foremost industrial centres and home to Mercedes-Benz’s manufacturing facility in the country.

From Pune, the two S-Class limousines will separate to explore individual routes. One will head towards the cosmopolitan metropolis of Mumbai, while the other will journey through the historic landscapes and grandeur of Hampi. The two vehicles will reunite in Bengaluru, home to Mercedes-Benz’s technology innovation and research and development centre in India.

The expedition will then continue westwards through Goa before concluding in Mumbai. Along the way, the journey will celebrate India’s spectacular western coastline, remarkable topographical diversity, rich cultural heritage and the relentless spirit of progress that continues to define the nation.

With the India leg now underway, Mercedes-Benz’s ‘140 Years. 140 Places.’ initiative continues to celebrate not only the invention of the automobile but also the enduring values of innovation, engineering excellence and cultural connection that have shaped the brand for more than a century while bringing its iconic S-Class to some of the world’s most extraordinary destinations.