~ Mercedes-Benz India and BBDO India (team x) turn the global 140-year S-Class expedition into a distinctly Indian homecoming, capped in Mumbai with Kiara Advani and Karan Johar ~
Mumbai, September 2026: Mercedes-Benz India has brought the global “140 Years. 140 Places.” expedition home — three flagship S-Class cars named Bertha, Carl and Gottlieb tracing routes across India before a Mumbai welcome filmed with Kiara Advani and Karan Johar. Creative is by BBDO India (team x), which framed the India chapter as more than another pin on a map: a homecoming.
The anniversary nods to Carl Benz’s Patent-Motorwagen and a 140-year legacy of automotive firsts. Globally the tour spans 140 destinations across six continents and roughly 60,000 kilometres. In India, Gottlieb ran Delhi–Amritsar–J&K–Ladakh (including Umling La, the world’s highest motorable pass) through Lucknow, Varanasi and Patna into Bhutan and back; Bertha and Carl moved via Hampi, Bengaluru and Goa into Mumbai for the local finale.
In the Kiara Advani film, she greets Bertha as her “new bestie” and steers her through Old Bombay heritage, the modern skyline and nightlife before sticking a Mumbai location badge on the car. Karan Johar’s film leans on his own Mumbai bond for a second cut of the city’s character. Production is by Colonial Films (director Kunaal Kelkar).
Santosh Iyer, Managing Director & CEO, Mercedes-Benz India, said the tour aims at “capturing the rich cultural tapestry, awe-inspiring architecture, the unique geographical diversities and the unmatched energy and spirit of our customers,” adding that India hosts the journey “narrated through our flagship S-Class.” Josy Paul, Chairman & Chief Creative Officer, BBDO India (team X), said: “We didn’t want India to be just another destination on a 140-year global journey. We wanted it to feel like a homecoming.”
Marketing take: Naming the cars Bertha, Carl and Gottlieb and handing Mumbai to Kiara and Karan turns a global anniversary into local folklore — India isn’t a stopover; it’s the chapter that makes the Three-Pointed Star feel like it belongs here.
