Mercedes-Benz India Kick-starts the New Decade Towards ‘Sustainable Luxury’

PUNE:
Mercedes-Benz the country’s largest luxury car manufacturer electrified the entire automotive sector in India with the launch of its product & technology brand ‘EQ’ in India. Brand EQ is a product and technology ecosystem that aims to shape the future of mobility, which derives from the Mercedes brand values of ‘Emotion’ and ‘Intelligence.’ ‘EQ’ is the first dedicated electro mobility brand in the luxury segment and will launch its first product ‘EQC’, in April 2020.

Mercedes-Benz is establishing ‘Sustainable Luxury’ as the future roadmap in India and the launch of the brand ‘EQ” will be an important pillar in that roadmap. The brand ‘EQ’ was launched in India by Martin Schwenk, MD & CEO, Mercedes-Benz India and Santosh Iyer, Vice-President, Sales & Marketing, Mercedes-Benz India at the company’s manufacturing facility in Chakan, Pune.

Speaking on the occasion, Martin Schwenk said, “As the inventors of the automobile and pioneers of luxury mobility in India, we are launching the brand ‘EQ’ that will establish luxury electric motoring in India. The ‘EQ’ brand is a key pillar of our ‘Sustainable Luxury’ objective and is the first dedicated luxury electric brand in India. We felt the time was right to introduce EQ brand in India and our first product for India will be the EQC EV. We are confident that EQ will lay a strong foundation for our electric ambition in India, which will see further expansion of our green cars portfolio and also for our future.”

Martin Schwenk elaborated, “With the launch of EQ we firmly announce Mercedes- Benz’s arrival into the new era of electro mobility. We want the EQ brand to create an ecosystem in which electric mobility is reliable, simple and at the same time exciting. The ‘EQC Edition 1886’ illustrates progressive design, exciting driving dynamics and a range more than suitable for daily use. Long-term, worry-free vehicle use is the sole focus for us in launching the EQ brand in India.”

Restless for Tomorrow:
“Our customers are constantly pushing the boundaries, redefining themselves and challenging their own accomplished successes. They have a spirit of restlessness and success for them is not a culmination of their journey, but the starting point for a new one. We are inspired by this spirit of our customers and identify ourselves with this state of mind and ‘Restless for Tomorrow’ will be the mantra for Mercedes-Benz India for 2020”. stated Martin Schwenk explaining the brand mantra of Mercedes-Benz India for 2020.

Mercedes-Benz India will have a host of initiatives that aims at expanding the market. These includes an unprecedented product offensive, reaching out to newer customer base and markets and establishing luxury electric motoring in India. All these initiatives underlines our inner restlessness and our desire to strive for a new journey, pursuing new success and create new milestone on the way.

Sustainability efforts at Mercedes-Benz India:
Based on the roadmap of driving ‘Sustainable Luxury’, Mercedes-Benz India has aggressively set ‘sustainability’ as a key focus area. Mercedes-Benz India’s sustainability focus has been divided into three core focus areas, that of Planet, People and Products. Mercedes-Benz India has taken innovative initiatives towards carbon neutrality to help maintain the ecological balance and do our small bit for the planet with our focus on renewable energy

• Today, around 20% of energy requirement at the manufacturing facility comes from renewable source, which is solar-powered. By the end of this quarter, the plan is to increase this to 45% with installation that will cater to almost 45% of the energy requirement of MB India
• With this, we will be able to produce around 1.6 MW energy per year and reduce 2600 tons of CO2 per year

Product highlights of the EQ 1886:

Mercedes-Benz of electric cars Exclusive appeal, high quality looks
Carefully coordinated elements on the exterior and interior are among the optional extras for the EQC Edition 1886. The black panel radiator grille with louvres and edging in high-gloss black ensure a particularly exclusive character on the exterior. The ‘EQC Edition 1886’ is available exclusively in metallic high-tech silver. Further individual features include the high-gloss black badge with ‘EQC Edition 1886’ lettering on the mudguard and the 10-spoke 20-inch light-alloy wheels in high-gloss black with white decorative elements.

The exclusive appeal continues in the interior, for example with the new seat designs with upholstery in ARTICO man-made leather/ DINAMICA microfibre in indigo blue and black. A special ‘EQC Edition 1886' lettering is embroidered into the seat backrests. The lettering can also be found as a badge on the centre console. This level of detail is also evident in the specific trim elements in silver matrix look as well as the floor mats with the “EQC” embroidery.

ENERGIZING package ensures individual feel-good atmosphere
The EQC Edition 1886 has outstanding driving assistance systems for the highest level of safety and driving comfort. The Burmester® surround sound system provides remarkable sound and fully shows its potential in the extremely quiet interior of the EQC.

The ENERGIZING package is also on-board. The ENERGIZING comfort controller combines various systems in the car, thus creating an optimal environment from the lighting mood to the fragrance and ionisation of the air to keep the user fresh and vitalised. The ENERGIZING COACH uses data from the vehicle and surroundings to recommend one of the ENERGIZING programmes that fits the situation and the individual. Aspects such as the traffic situation, weather and length of the journey, for example, are included in the assessment. In addition, data providing information on the driver’s current well-being can also be used. This is made possible by networking with available Garmin® wearables (smartwatches/fitness trackers). Further optional extras such as electric adjustable driver and front passenger seats with memory function round off the Edition package.

Charging: Flexible and fast
Like every EQC, the EQC Edition 1886 has a water-cooled on-board charger (OBC) with an output of 7.4 kW and is therefore ready for charging with alternating current (AC) at home and at public charging stations. Charging with a Mercedes-Benz Wallbox is up to three times faster than at a domestic power socket. It is even faster with DC charging – which is standard for the EQC, with a suitable market-specific plug. Depending on the SoC (status of charge), the EQC can be charged with a maximum output of up to 110 kW at an appropriate charging station.