Mercedes-Benz Celebrates 140 Years of the Automobile with 40 Models and 12 Classics at Beijing Auto Show

The 19th Beijing International Automotive Exhibition 2026 will be held from April 24 to May 3 at the China International Exhibition Center (Shunyi Venue). Mercedes-Benz will showcase nearly 40 new vehicles in Hall E4, alongside 12 iconic heritage models, marking Beijing as the first stop in China for its global “140 Years, 140 Cities” celebration commemorating the 140th anniversary of the invention of the automobile. The exhibited lineup spans both combustion and electric powertrains, featuring the world premiere of the all-new EQG GLC SUV, the China debut of the new-generation S-Class sedan, and the China market launch of the all-electric CLA 260 L. The all-electric GLC SUV is the first fully electric version of the brand’s best-selling GLC model, featuring an extended wheelbase, chassis technology derived from the S-Class, an AI-powered intelligent cabin, and an advanced driver assistance system based on a reinforcement learning large model. The new S-Class sedan has been tailored for Chinese customers with urban and highway navigation-assisted driving functions and a rear-seat entertainment system powered by an on-device multimodal large vision model (VLM). The all-electric CLA 260 L features a segment-exclusive two-speed electric transmission and is developed on the MB.OS architecture. The booth will also highlight the latest AI-driven innovations in intelligent cabins and driver assistance systems. The rear-seat entertainment system—developed primarily by the China team—integrates the VLM large model, upgrading the virtual assistant into a proactive AI concierge. The driver assistance system leverages a reinforcement learning large model to enhance performance in both urban and highway scenarios and will gradually roll out across more models. All vehicles equipped with MB.OS will support multi-domain OTA updates, enabling continuous optimization of AI models and the intelligent ecosystem. To commemorate the 140th anniversary of the automobile’s invention, Mercedes-Benz has launched its global “140 Years, 140 Cities” initiative, with Beijing serving as the inaugural stop. Inspired by the brand’s new family grille design, the booth features multiple immersive zones showcasing 12 milestone vehicles spanning automotive history—including the W116 S-Class, the first production car equipped with ABS; the legendary W140 “Tiger Head Benz” S-Class widely recognized in China; and the AMG GT XX concept car, which set new benchmarks for electric vehicle performance.