Mercedes-Benz Brings Global 140-Year Anniversary Tour To Malaysia, Showcases New S-Class At KLCC
Mercedes-Benz Malaysia brought its global “140 Years. 140 Places.” anniversary tour to Malaysia last weekend to mark a major milestone in the brand’s history while highlighting the country’s longstanding role within the Mercedes-Benz global network.
The worldwide drive commemorates 140 years since Carl Benz patented the world’s first automobile in 1886. The journey began on 29 January 2026 in Stuttgart, Germany, and spans six continents using the new Mercedes-Benz S-Class as the flagship vehicle for the celebrations.
According to Mercedes-Benz Malaysia, the initiative aims to bring the brand’s heritage, innovation and future mobility ambitions directly to customers and enthusiasts around the world.
“140 Years of Innovation for Mercedes-Benz is not just a milestone, it is a testament to what happens when passion, precision, and purpose come together. For Malaysia, this celebration holds a special meaning. Through the ‘140 Years. 140 Places.’ journey, we are proud to celebrate and share the rich legacy and heritage of our brand with Malaysians — a legacy built over decades through Mercedes-Benz’s enduring commitment to fostering meaningful and lasting relationships with its customers,” said Martin Schulz, CEO & President of Mercedes-Benz Cars Malaysia and Head of Region for Mercedes-Benz Cars Southeast Asia.
New S-Class Takes Centre Stage
As part of the Malaysian leg of the celebration, Mercedes-Benz hosted “140 Places. 140 Years. One Celebration in Kuala Lumpur” at KLCC Square, featuring a showcase of classic Mercedes-Benz models, Mercedes-AMG performance vehicles and the first public appearance of the new Mercedes-Benz S-Class.
The latest S-Class receives substantial updates, with Mercedes-Benz claiming that more than 50% of the vehicle’s components — approximately 2,700 parts — are newly developed or re-engineered.
Among the most visible changes is a redesigned front end featuring an illuminated grille that is 20% larger than before.
Inside, the flagship luxury sedan adopts the latest Mercedes-Benz Operating System (MB.OS) architecture alongside the MBUX Superscreen, while the brand’s AIRMATIC air suspension system continues to underpin its comfort-focused driving experience.
Special Formula One Car Display
Visitors were also given an opportunity to view the Mercedes MGP W01 Formula One car, which marked the beginning of the partnership between PETRONAS and the Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS Formula One Team in 2010.
The display carries particular significance for Malaysian audiences given PETRONAS’ role as title and technical partner of the team.
Since the collaboration began, the team has secured eight consecutive Constructors’ Championships between 2014 and 2021 and seven consecutive Drivers’ Championships.
Malaysia’s Long History With Mercedes-Benz
The anniversary celebration also serves as a reminder of Malaysia’s deep-rooted relationship with Mercedes-Benz, which stretches back more than a century.
Mercedes-Benz notes that the Sultan of Johor was believed to be among the earliest owners of a Mercedes-Benz vehicle in Malaya during the early 20th century.
Official sales operations began in 1951 through Cycle & Carriage, while local passenger car assembly commenced in 1968.
One of Malaysia’s most significant milestones came in 1983 when the country became the first market outside Germany to assemble the Mercedes-Benz S-Class locally, specifically the Mercedes-Benz 380 SE.
The establishment of the Pekan production facility in 2004 further strengthened Malaysia’s strategic importance to the brand’s regional operations.
More recently, Mercedes-Benz Malaysia celebrated the rollout of the locally assembled EQS 500 4MATIC in 2023, which became the first locally assembled Mercedes-Benz EQ model. The same year also marked the production of the 100,000th Mercedes-Benz passenger vehicle at the Pekan plant.
Beyond manufacturing, Malaysia has also become increasingly important to Mercedes-Benz’s regional logistics and digital operations through initiatives such as Mercedes-Benz Parts Logistics Asia-Pacific and Mercedes-Benz Tech Malaysia.
Today, Mercedes-Benz Malaysia works alongside six retail partners nationwide as it continues to expand its customer and ownership ecosystem.
CarTok Editor’s Note
For Mercedes-Benz, the most important story here is that Malaysia continues to occupy a meaningful place in the company’s global narrative. Being the first country outside Germany to assemble the S-Class was not a just symbolic achievement — it reflected a level of manufacturing confidence rarely granted to overseas markets at the time. More than four decades later, Malaysia’s role has evolved from assembly lines to logistics, technology and regional support functions. Few automotive brands can claim a relationship with Malaysia that has matured in quite the same way.
