Mercedes-Benz will soon start assembling S-Class models in India for the local market, significantly reducing the price of the luxury sedan.
In India, an imported S-Class typically costs between 21,700,000 and 21,900,000 Indian Rupees (~US$292,000 – US$295,000), which is very expensive when you consider that the S-Class starts at roughly $110,000 in the United States. By assembling the S-Class locally as a CKD (Completely Knocked Down) unit, the automaker is expected to reduce the car’s starting price to around 17,500,000 Indian Rupees, or around US$235,000. That’s still a lot of money but it is significantly less than before, Autocar India notes.
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Details about Indian-built S-Class models remain a little murky but it should come with most of the same features as those exported from overseas markets. As such, things like the new car’s 12.8-inch portrait-oriented infotainment system, 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, and ambient lighting will all be present. However, some of the more premium features like the S-Class’s 4D Burmester surround sound system and rear seat entertainment screens may not come standard on models built in India.
No mechanical changes are expected. As such, the S-Class will continue to be sold in S 400d and S 450 4MATIC guises. Both models use six-cylinder engines with the S 400d pumping out 335 hp and 516 lb-ft (700 Nm) of torque while the S 450 4MATIC delivers 367 hp and 368 lb-ft (500 Nm).
Mercedes-Benz is expected to announce pricing details and specifications for Indian-built S-Class models on October 7.
