mb. Connect! with Farhan Akhtar

Mercedes Benz believes in connecting with owners, enthusiasts and fans at the core level and the ‘Star Drive’ is one such media of establishing such connection. After providing some hardcore adrenaline pumping moments all over India, the Mercedes Benz ‘Star drive’ experience hit Mumbai. This unrivalled experience showcased the unparalleled performance of Mercedes Benz products combined with the sophistication in terms of engineering, technology and pure luxury. The intensity was further raised by the presence of Mercedes Benz Customer and Bollywood superstar Farhan Akhtar.

Mercedes Benz and success are two words which often go hand in hand and Farhan Akhtar has had the best of both. On this edition of mb connect, Farhan tests the limits of the Mercedes cars at Juhu aerodrome and answers questions posted by facebook fans in a candid session with Mr. Debasis Mitra. Farhan Akhtar’s association with bollywood goes back to more than a decade. Having delivered blockbusters such as Dil Chahta Hai, Don and Zingadi Na Milege Dobara, he shares a special passion for Mercedes Benz cars and also happens to be the first owner of the ultimate SUV, the all new ML Class. 

Out of the many questions posted by fans, Farhan answered the selected questions with utmost enthusiasm. He has a special liking for SUV’s and has done a road trip all around Europe in the ML Class and said he feels absolutely relaxed and comfortable when he is behind the wheel of his favourite Mercedes. He rarely prefers to be a passenger and is eager to jump into the driver’s seat and relish the Mercedes Benz driving experience. Farhan proclaims himself to be lucky to be the first owner of the ML Class and vows to put this mighty SUV to the limit of its tremendous capability. Being completely a family man, Farhan gives due importance to his family for their opinions on buying a car. Versatility is one of his key attributes and it’s not easy to be an actor, director, producer, writer and singer at the same time and Farhan would like to leave it to his fans as to how they will like to remember him. 

That’s all from this edition of mb connect with Farhan Akhtar, stay tuned for the next mb connect with a special star.

Inherited agility. Comprehending the C-Class

Experience a new generation of agility with the C-Class from Mercedes-Benz. An automobile crafted for speed, the C-Class provides thrills like no other. Confident yet captivating, the C-Class is the perfect blend of sportiness and state-of-the-art innovations.

Available in petrol and diesel variants, the C-Class delivers uncompromising efficiency in an automobile that impresses in every detail.  While the C-Class rolled out initially in 1993, we’ve never stopped perfecting it since. Its subsequent iterations have resulted in a car that is the true harbinger of speed. The 7G-TRONIC 7-speed automatic transmission ensures that the C-Class makes its mark both on the track and off it. Its proven record of wins cumulated with the 2010 DTM championship where a C-Class took first place in nine out of eleven DTM races.

Styled to exhilarate as much as it accelerates, the C-Class is easy to pick out from the crowd with a powerful and provocative front section. This styling is carried even within with the dashboard, surfaces and trims that espouse speed at every corner. The result is an automobile that looks like its speeding even when at a standstill. 

This speed comes with features that ensure a responsible drive. BlueEFFICIENCY technologies ensure reduced emissions while a slew of safety features like ATTENTION ASSIST, AGILITY CONTROL and Intelligent Light System ensure for a safe drive. The result, a perfect combination in a car that delivers agility, style and substance.  The Mercedes-Benz blog explores facets of this amazing automobile right here in subsequent posts. Stay tuned.

Mercedes-Benz India inaugurates the largest workshop ever

Mercedes-Benz India creates a benchmark in luxury car industry, inaugurates the largest workshop ever

• Auto Hangar Workshop is the largest workshop ever by any luxury car maker in India
• Spread over a massive covered area of 100,000 sq. ft.
• Auto Hangar Workshop carries an investment of over INR 520 mn
• 54 dedicated bays capable of servicing 60 cars each day
• Employs more than 155 service personnel
• Strong emphasis on network enhancement

Mumbai – Reiterating its core brand philosophy of offering ‘Best or Nothing’, Mercedes-Benz India today inaugurated the largest ever workshop by any luxury car manufacturer in India, at Andheri (East) Mumbai. Spread over a massive covered area of 100,000 sq. ft. the new state-of-art workshop of AutoHangar, Mercedes-Benz India’s dealer partner in Mumbai, was inaugurated by Mr. Peter Honegg, Managing Director & CEO, Mercedes-Benz India and Mr. Mohan Mariwala, Managing Director, AutoHangar. 

Mr. Peter Honegg, Managing Director & CEO Mercedes-Benz India commented:

“Mercedes-Benz’s core brand philosophy is Best or Nothing and this has been our guiding philosophy in all our initiatives. While we continue to make some of the best cars world over, it has also been our relentless endeavor to provide each of our customers with an unmatched servicing experience leading to a delightful vehicle ownership experience. With this world-class workshop of Auto Hangar which is the largest in the luxury car industry in India, having the best of equipments and human dexterity, I am confident that the discerning and loyal customers of Mumbai will cherish owning a Mercedes-Benz vehicle. I reiterate the fact that going forward, world-class servicing standards will be the key differentiator and Mercedes-Benz will continue to create new benchmark and take a lead. We have been focusing on strategically expanding our network in India and this new world-class workshop is yet another step to move closer to the customers”.

The new world-class workshop of Auto Hangar has been designed and created to provide a fascinating ‘Mercedes-Benz experience’ for the customers. The workshop was created over a span of 18 months, and boasts of being the largest workshop to be created by any luxury auto manufacturer in India. Auto Hangar Mumbai workshop spreads over a covered area of 100,000 sq. ft. and has an astounding 54 servicing bays capable of servicing 60 cars per day and employs 159 personnel to take care of customer requirements. Strategically located in one of the most prominent places of Mumbai at Saki Vihar Road, Andheri East, the new workshop of Auto Hangar is easily accessible from the West East and Eastern Express Highway. Auto Hangar Mumbai has highly qualified, experienced and dedicated team of committed personnel who will take care of all the service requirements of Mercedes-Benz customers.

Mr. Mohan Mariwala, Managing Director, Auto Hangar commented on the inauguration:

“Increasingly the need for a world-class servicing facility will define the way luxury car purchase is going to evolve in India. The customer today is mature and demands world-class servicing standard that is available to their counterparts across the globe. Auto Hangar’s new workshop is yet another step towards the aim of providing our customers, an unparalleled servicing standard that reflects Mercedes-Benz’s philosophy of Best or Nothing. Auto Hangar is proud to be associated with Mercedes-Benz and presents the country’s largest luxury car workshop that combines the best of infrastructure, technology and human skills. With our strong association with Mercedes-Benz we are confident of maintaining a strong lead in providing our customers a true blue luxury car ownership experience. Because we believe our customers are Best and they deserve the Best”.

Auto Hangar Mumbai is equipped with sophisticated equipments and latest technology likes remote sensing diagnosis used by Mercedes-Benz globally. The workshop owing to its large tooling capacity will be taking care of all the servicing requirements of the customers of Mumbai and also those from neighbouring cities, under one roof. The workshop will provide round the clock support in Service, General Repairs, Body Repairs, Paint Job, Wheel Alignment, Wheel Balancing, Tyre Change, Car Wash, Polishing and gamut of other servicing requirements.

Mercedes-Benz today commands the distinction of having the densest network among luxury car manufacturers in India owing to its long standing presence in the Indian market and its strategic expansion of its network. Mercedes-Benz is present across 31 Indian cities through its 72 touchpoints. Encouraged by its novel and benchmarking ‘Go to Customer’ initiatives like inauguration of the Star Lounge, offering the Star Lease, organising Star Drive, opening of Trendz concept stores, inauguration of AMG Driving Academy at BIC and rolling-out of Star Showcase across the country; Mercedes-Benz remains confident of its strong traction and steady growth and further expanding its footprint in the dynamic Indian market. The company has recently unveiled India’s first Sports Tourer, the B-Class at Buddh International Circuit and will be launching the car very soon for the aficionados of the brand.

The world beckons. Don’t trail behind.

Work life and its routines more often than not get the better of us.

There's a world out there that beckons to be explored. All it takes is that first bold step. The life of an explorer is riddled with the unknown, the constant notion of not knowing what lies ahead. Only those who venture off the beaten track get to witness the world in all its splendour. Mercedes-Benz India celebrates the explorer in you with its Ultimate Touring Trails Contest. This is a contest that fuels the adventurer in you, driving you to experience the bolder side of life.


Have it in you to battle out the waves as you river raft? Want to scorch the sky as you sky dive? Thirsting to discover new depths as you scuba dive? The Ultimate Touring Trails Contest is for you. This tour will take you on an adventure like never before. Experience breath-taking locations and challenging adventure sports with your favourite celebrities. Meet your favourite stars including Reitesh & Genelia Deshmukh, Kalki Koechlin & Gaurav Kapoor as they push their limits and yours with these sports. Visit our website www.readytob.in to sign up for the tour now.


Think you want to take your own tour and conquer the world on your terms? It's time to take to the road with India's first Sports Tourer the new B-Class from Mercedes-Benz India . Get Ready to B!

Mercedes-Benz C 63 AMG Coupé Black Series is the new DTM Safety Car

A further highlight of the 2012 DTM season in addition to the spectacular new Mercedes-AMG C-Coupé will be the DTM Safety Car: right from the off, C 63 AMG Coupé Black Series will be providing the necessary safety for the world's most popular touring car series. With a maximum output of 380 kW (517 hp), this two-seater is the most powerful C-Class of all time. The German Touring Car Masters (DTM) gets underway at the Hockenheimring on 29 April 2012.

The Safety Car is deployed under the direction of the German Motorsport Association (DMSB), which is responsible for implementing safety measures, ensuring compliance with safety standards and discharging the attendant official sporting functions in accordance with the DTM rules. The C 63 AMG Coupé Black Series Safety Car driven by racing driver Jürgen Kastenholz (44) is intended to ensure maximum safety for racing drivers, spectators and track marshals in case of dangerous situations, such as extreme weather conditions, accidents or other incidents. In response to a radio message from the race organizers, the Safety Car enters the track and leads the DTM field around the circuit until normal racing can be resumed.

The most powerful C-Class of all time stands for spectacular design, technology transfer from the field of motorsport and driving dynamics of the very highest caliber. As such, the C 63 AMG Coupé Black Series only required modification to a few points of detail for deployment as the DTM Safety Car. The most striking feature distinguishing it from the series production version is the aerodynamically optimized light bar on the roof. Energy-efficient, fast-response LEDs in green and orange keep the DTM racing drivers informed of the current situation.

DTM Safety Car provided by Mercedes-AMG since 2000

Mercedes-AMG has been providing the Safety Car ever since the beginning of the "new" DTM in 2000, alternating with Audi from race to race – and since 2012 with BMW also. In the Formula 1 World Championship, an SLS AMG is deployed as an Official F1 Safety-Car and a C 63 AMG Estate serves as an Official F1 Medical Car.

Mercedes-Benz – A True Leader

Mercedes-Benz India expands its footprint in Haryana, inaugurates new dealership at Karnal

• First luxury car dealership in Karnal spread over 34,000 sq. ft. area; investment of over Rs. 30 million.
• Boasts of a display area showcasing the exciting range of Mercedes-Benz cars, boutique display showcase, and exclusive customer lounge creating a delightful customer experience.
• An integrated 3S State-of-art facility on GT Karnal Road which will boast of displaying a total of 11 cars with complete mechanical and Body & Paint workshop is under development.
• Densest network among all luxury car makers in India with 70 touch points in 31 cities.

Continuing its commitment to reach out to new customers, Mercedes-Benz India announced the inauguration of its first state-of-art dealership at Karnal, Haryana. Spread over 34,000 sq. ft., and built with an investment of Rs. 30 million, Berkeley Motors is Karnal’s first ever luxury car dealership primely located at the city’s automobile hub at 118-119 Km Stone, GT Road. The new dealership was inaugurated by Mr. Debashis Mitra, Director, Sales & Marketing, Mercedes-Benz India and Mr. Sanjay Dahuja, Managing Director, Berkeley Motors.

Mr. Debashis Mitra, Director, Sales & Marketing, Mercedes-Benz India remarked: “Inauguration of Berkeley Motors, the first ever dealership by a luxury car manufacturer at Karnal, is reaffirmation of our long standing association, deep commitment and thorough understanding of the Indian market. As part of our successful ‘Go to Customer’ strategy we are committed to reaching out to more customers and give them the Mercedes-Benz experience of Best or Nothing, which is core to our brand philosophy . I am confident that Berkeley Motors will offer the disconcerted customers of Karnal and nearby areas, the excitement associated with brand Mercedes-Benz through our fascinating product range and distinct world class service.”

Created over a span of two months, the provisional facility of Berkeley Motors, Karnal is spread over a total area of 34,000 sq. ft. embracing a well structured showroom and the full-fledged workshop. Strategically located in the automobile hub of the city at 118-119 Km Stone, GT Road, the new dealership has been established with an investment of Rs. 30 million (3 Crores). The new interim dealership has been designed and created to provide a fascinating ‘Mercedes-Benz experience’ for the customers. In addition to the interim facility, a State-of-art 3S facility on GT Karnal Road which will boast of displaying a total of 11 cars with complete mechanical and Body & Paint workshop is under progress.

 This interim facility at Berkeley Motors includes a Drive-in valet service, exclusive customer lounge combined with the display of a wide range of Mercedes-Benz cars. The accessories arenas, an engaging audio-visual presentation, a boutique collection are some of the elements that will introduce the customer to the world of Mercedes-Benz. Berkeley Motors has dedicated and hand-picked personnel to assist the customers in making the purchase of their dream Mercedes-Benz a hassle free one. Towards this, Berkeley Motors has a qualified & experienced team of committed personnel who will take care of the sales, after-sales and service requirements of the customers.

Equipped with highest quality Mercedes-Benz equipment and trained manpower, the workshop of Berkeley Motors has been built at par with the brand’s stringent universal benchmark. Berkeley Motors boasts of a workshop that can take care of customer service requirements and service 6 cars each day. The workshop can undertake general repairs and accident jobs, spares; round the clock after sales support and also have a separate driver’s lounge. Mr. Sanjeev Dahuja, Managing Director, Berkeley Motors commented on the inauguration: “I am extremely delighted to present the city’s first ever luxury car dealership to the customers of Karnal. To be associated with the Three Pointed Star is a matter of immense prestige and we are delighted at this opportunity. At Berkeley Motors we are inspired by Mercedes-Benz’s brand philosophy of ‘Best or Nothing’ and we will ensure the customers of Karnal and nearby cities are offered Mercedes-Benz’s globally famed vehicle ownership experience enabled through its fascinating and emotion evoking product range and benchmarking service standards.”

With the inauguration of Berkeley Motors, the first ever luxury car dealership at Karnal, Mercedes-Benz remains the leading luxury car brand with the densest sales and services network penetration in India with 70 touch points spread over 31 Indian cities.

Encouraged by its novel and benchmarking ‘Go to Customer’ initiatives like inauguration of the Star Lounge, offering the Star Lease, organizing Star Drive, opening of Trendz concept stores, inauguration of AMG Driving Academy at BIC and rolling-out of Star Showcase across the country; Mercedes-Benz remains confident of its strong growth and further expanding its footprint in the dynamic Indian market.

The Stars Lead the way

When it comes to the pinnacle of automotive engineering, you only need to turn to the Stars to find your way. With last weekend’s win of the Mercedes-Benz GP team at Shanghai China, the brand has once again reiterated this fact.

Mercedes-Benz has for long been a true leader in the automotive space. Not just the inventors of the automobile, the very genes of innovation run through our veins. The company has established itself in every aspect of automotive engineering, including performance, safety and luxury. Over 80% of all automotive patents are owned by Mercedes-Benz. We help define the future of mobility with innovations such as BLUE EFFICIENCY.  Our innovations have moved beyond occupants and keep in mind the safety of pedestrians as well with innovations like the ACTIVE SAFETY bonnet.  

We have pioneered several initiatives in the Indian market, creating benchmarks for other luxury automotive brands. We established the AMG Driving Academy in India, an event where people could learn how to handle top –of-the-line vehicles with the help of experts. The MercedesTrophy redefines luxury golfing in India for professionals and enthusiasts alike. Our StarDrive initiative is the first in its segments and offers a unique test-driving experience that tests the mettle of our Stars. We even offer more car, per Star, with our unique Star Lease program that allows you to lease a Mercedes-Benz car without any hassle of maintenance.

The recent Formula One win is another stellar example of a new beginning and how we will lead the way in the near future.