Mercedes-Benz presented nearly 40 vehicles at the 2026 Beijing Auto Show. The event featured the global debut of the new all-electric GLC SUV, the China premiere of the next-generation S-Class sedan, the exhibition debut of the next-generation Maybach S-Class, and the launch of the new all-electric CLA 260 L in China.

Ola Källenius, Chairman of the Board of Management of Mercedes-Benz Group AG, stated that China remains the strategic focus of the company's global market. The "In China, For China" principle drives continuous innovation and represents a firm commitment to the Chinese market. By 2027, Mercedes-Benz plans to launch over 40 new models worldwide, including several global debuts tailored specifically for China, demonstrating its innovation in technology leadership and localized R&D.

The new all-electric Mercedes-Benz CLA 260 L launched with a nationwide starting price of 229,000 yuan. It features a fully illuminated grille with 142 independently lit LED stars, a virtual assistant powered by the MB.OS architecture for human-like interaction, and standard features including highway navigation-assisted driving, intelligent parking assist, and trace reverse assist. The vehicle is equipped with 11 airbags, including front-center and front knee airbags. Existing CLA EV owners will receive a large-scale OTA update in the second quarter, enhancing the intelligent cockpit and driver-assistance systems.

The all-electric GLC SUV made its global debut with a wheelbase of 3,027 mm. It incorporates chassis technology derived from the S-Class, including AIRMATIC air suspension with China-specific hydraulic bushings and rear-axle steering with 4.5 degrees of adjustment in both directions. The model comes standard with a dual-motor all-wheel-drive system and a two-speed transmission, delivering a range exceeding 700 km under CLTC conditions. Utilizing a reinforcement learning model, it offers urban and highway navigation-assisted driving capabilities across China. The cabin includes a 39.1-inch悬浮式 seamless MBUX superscreen and a new virtual assistant named "Xiao Ben," which integrates AI models, hyper-realistic voice synthesis, and 3D graphics. The vehicle is equipped with up to 11 airbags and underwent over 230 real-world crash tests before launch.

The next-generation S-Class sedan features over 50% of its components newly developed or redesigned, with a fully refreshed exterior. The cabin is equipped with a 14.4-inch central touchscreen and a 12.3-inch front passenger display. The rear independent seats offer backrest adjustment up to 43.5 degrees and a leg rest angle adjustment of 50 degrees for the right rear seat. The vehicle runs on the proprietary MB.OS architecture and includes numerous intelligent features customized for Chinese customers. A new rear-seat entertainment system, led by the Chinese R&D team, utilizes an on-device multimodal large model (VLM). Urban and highway navigation-assisted driving, based on a reinforcement learning model, is tailored for the Chinese market. The new inline 6-cylinder engine increases rated torque to 560 N·m and incorporates a 48-volt ISG mild-hybrid system with 17 kW. The AIRMATIC air suspension and Magic Body Control system are upgraded with "Road Surface Scan" functionality.

The next-generation Mercedes-Maybach S-Class, which had its global debut in Beijing, was also displayed. It features headlights with a "twin star" design accented by rose gold elements. The car utilizes the AI-powered MB.OS architecture and includes the latest intelligent human-machine interaction system with Maybach-exclusive designs. It offers multiple powertrain options, including top-tier 12-cylinder, 8-cylinder, and 6-cylinder engines.

Mercedes-Benz is actively advancing AI technology. Within the next 9 to 15 months, AI-enhanced intelligent cockpits and navigation-assisted driving systems will be rolled out across most models. In the field of driver assistance, the company will explore and introduce world models within the year, aiming to eventually implement "physical AI" for end-to-end navigation-assisted driving from parking space to parking space. In the intelligent cockpit domain, an intelligent agent architecture co-developed with ByteDance, based on the Doubao model, will be launched in the second half of the year. Mercedes-Benz is also deepening cooperation with Amap on AI-powered travel agents.