Marking 140 years of Mercedes?Benz innovation is no small occasion, but for South Africa the celebration carries a distinctly local heartbeat as it also achieved a centenary of the brand in the country. While Stuttgart unveiled the latest S?Class to honour the brand’s global legacy, South Africans are marking a century of Mercedes?Benz on home soil — and doing so with a strong focus on the new models shaping the brand’s future in this country.
That future is already taking physical form. Mercedes?Benz South Africa has laid out a refreshed product strategy that blends its traditional luxury pedigree with a clear intention to broaden access to the brand. From ultra?exclusive Maybach editions to more attainable diesel SUVs and a rapidly expanding electric commercial range, the local line?up is being reshaped with South African customers firmly in mind.
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The Makotopong Museum showcased current models alongside its huge classic collection. The private collection of more than 200 cars is owned by Pius Mokgokong
At the pinnacle of the range sits the new Mercedes?Maybach SL, a striking blend of the iconic SL roadster and Maybach’s handcrafted luxury. South African buyers will be able to choose from curated specification themes such as Red Ambiance and White Ambience, each featuring exclusive paintwork — including a deep garnet red and a white Magno finish — paired with 21?inch wheels and a crystal?white interior.
Even rarer is the Mercedes?Maybach S 680 V12 Edition. Only 150 will be built for the world, and South Africa has secured two of them. Inspired by the legendary Maybach Zeppelin models of the 1930s, the car wears a two?tone olive?green metallic and obsidian?black finish, separated by a precision silver pinstripe. The forged wheels match the olive?green bodywork, paying tribute to the heritage of the twelve?cylinder engine at its core.
Beyond the flagship offerings, Mercedes?Benz is preparing to introduce the third?generation CLA to the South African market. It will be the first local model to run the new Mercedes?Benz Operating System (MB.OS), and will launch in Progressive and AMG trims. A fully electric version is scheduled to follow shortly after the internal?combustion models arrive in the second quarter.
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From humble beginnings the innovation continues
In a move aimed squarely at expanding the brand’s reach, Mercedes?Benz South Africa is repositioning its GLC diesel line?up. Central to this shift is the introduction of the GLC 200d 4MATIC. According to Product Specialist Kishan Soma, the decision follows extensive analysis and customer feedback.
He explains the objective as twofold: making key models such as the GLC and C?Class more attainable for new buyers, while safeguarding the investment and resale values of existing owners. Internal identification codes have been created for the repositioned models to ensure clarity in the market. As Soma puts it, the brand is carefully balancing prestige with accessibility.
On the commercial side, Mercedes?Benz Vans South Africa is pushing ahead with locally informed innovation. The updated Sprinter minibus — known as the Kanyesi — has been revealed in its new Excel configuration. Built in East London, it now rides on an extra?long wheelbase while retaining its 22?seat layout. The key improvement is comfort: more than 70 cm of legroom between rows, making it far better suited to long?distance travel.
The E?Sprinter, which completed a local pilot phase in 2025, has proven viable for South African operating conditions, offering meaningful efficiency gains and lower running costs for fleet operators.
Looking ahead, the division has hinted at the global debut of the VLE — the first model to be built on the dedicated Van Electric Architecture (VAN.EA). This marks a significant step in the electrification of Mercedes?Benz’s commercial portfolio.
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Rare, precious and beautiful - the museum houses an extended history of Mercedes-Benz
Taken together, these developments show a brand evolving on multiple fronts. Mercedes?Benz is reinforcing its luxury credentials with limited?run masterpieces, while simultaneously adjusting pricing and specification to welcome a broader customer base. At the same time, its commercial division is embracing electric mobility in a way that reflects real South African operating needs.
From collectors seeking the rarest Maybachs to families shopping for a premium SUV and fleet operators planning for an electric future, Mercedes?Benz South Africa is positioning itself to serve an exceptionally wide spectrum of customers — all united under the three?pointed star.
Colin Windell for Colin-on-Cars in association with
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