Mercedes-Benz Launches EQS, Rolls Out Luxury EV From Its Chakan Plant

• EQS 580 4Matic is priced at Rs 1.55 crore (ex-showroom).
• It’s the first locally assembled luxury electric vehicle in India.
• Top features include ADAS, Burmester 3D sound system and MBUX Hyperscreen.
• Powered by dual motors developing 523PS and 855Nm.
• Has a claimed range of 676km from its 107.8kWh battery.

Mercedes-Benz India has launched its first locally assembled luxury EV, the EQS 580 4Matic, with prices starting from Rs 1.55 crore (ex-showroom). The luxury sedan was rolled out from Mercedes’ Chakan factory in the presence of Nitin Gadkari, the Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways. 

The luxury electric sedan will be sold alongside the bonkers AMG EQS 53, which is brought to India as a full import. Take a look at the variant-wise prices of both cars:

The main advantage of assembling a car locally is that it comes with huge tax benefits as opposed to importing a model. For instance, the locally assembled EV costs Rs 5 lakh more affordable than the ICE-powered S-Class that starts at Rs 1.6 crore. However, when you compare it with the AMG EQS 53, the 580 is a whopping Rs 90 lakh more affordable. And despite that price difference, you still get a luxurious EV that pampers its occupants. 

The EQS looks a tad different from traditional three-box sedans as its design is focused more towards aerodynamic efficiency. In fact, so sleek is Mercedes’ EV that it has a drag coefficient (Cd) value of 0.2. You also get the typical Merc EV-specific elements like a closed-off grille, connected LED tail lamps and wheels designed to improve aerodynamic efficiency. 

On the inside, the EQS features the glorious MBUX Hyperscreen with three screens spanning the width of the dashboard. Splashes of ambient lighting across the interior raises the bar, especially during night. And as expected from a vehicle at this price point, you also get all the features that you would expect. 

Highlights include Mercedes me connect, four-zone climate control, ventilated and heated seats, massaging seats for front occupants, a Burmester 3D sound system, Air Balance package with perfume, and all four powered seats. Safety kit includes nine airbags, ADAS, electronic stability control and a tyre pressure monitoring system. 

The standard EQS ain’t a slouch when it comes to performance. You get dual motors (one on each axle) producing 523PS and 850Nm of twist combined. Put your foot down and the electric sedan accelerates from naught to 100kmph in 4.3 seconds and the top speed is capped at 210kmph. Powering the electric motor is a 107.8kWh battery good for a claimed 676km of range and a 10-80 per cent fast charging time of 31 minutes. 

The Mercedes-EQ EQS 580 will fight it out with the standard Audi e-tron GT and the lower-spec variants of the Porsche Taycan in India.