Mercedes-Benz GLC Electric India launch set for November 4, to offer 715km range

Mercedes-Benz will launch the all-electric GLC in India on November 4, bringing its latest-generation electric SUV to the country just months after its European rollout. Bookings for the model are scheduled to open in October.

The GLC Electric will be locally assembled at Mercedes-Benz’s Chakan plant near Pune and will be offered in the GLC 400 4Matic guise. The carmaker says it will be the fastest global Mercedes model to arrive in India as a locally assembled vehicle, coming within six months of the start of European sales.

715km claimed range

The GLC 400 4Matic uses a 94kWh battery pack and has a claimed WLTP range of up to 715km. Power comes from two electric motors driving all four wheels, producing a combined 490hp and 800Nm of torque.

Mercedes-Benz claims the electric SUV can accelerate from 0-100kph in 4.3 seconds despite weighing more than 2.5 tonnes.

The SUV supports DC fast charging at up to 330kW. Under optimal charging conditions, Mercedes claims a 10-minute fast charge can add as much as 300km of driving range.

Rear-wheel steering

The India-spec GLC Electric will also be equipped with rear-wheel steering. Internationally, the GLC 400 4Matic is available with rear-axle steering offering up to 4.5 degrees of movement as well as air suspension.

Unlike the long-wheelbase version developed for China, India will receive the standard-wheelbase model. It has a wheelbase of 2,972mm and will be offered as a five-seater.

New design language

The GLC Electric introduces a distinctive design compared with Mercedes-Benz’s earlier generation of electric SUVs. At the front is a large rounded illuminated grille accompanied by star-shaped LED daytime running lamps and projector LED headlights.

The profile features flush-fitting door handles, relatively restrained wheel-arch cladding and alloy wheels measuring up to 21 inches, depending on specification. At the rear, star-shaped lighting signatures sit within circular tail-light elements connected by a gloss-black strip.

39.1-inch Hyperscreen

The cabin’s headline feature is a 39.1-inch MBUX Hyperscreen spanning almost the entire dashboard. Mercedes-Benz says it is the largest display it has fitted to a production car.

The single-piece interface integrates the digital instrument cluster, central infotainment touchscreen and front passenger display. It runs the fourth-generation MBUX system and incorporates an AI-powered assistant.

Mercedes has also retained physical controls on parts of the steering wheel and centre console, moving away from the touch-sensitive approach used extensively on some of its earlier models.

Local assembly

Local assembly will be significant for the GLC Electric’s positioning in India, potentially allowing Mercedes-Benz to price the SUV more competitively than a fully imported model.

While official prices will be announced on November 4, the electric SUV is expected to be positioned in the Rs 80 lakh-Rs 90 lakh ex-showroom range. Its future rivals will include the BMW iX3 Long Wheelbase, which is scheduled to arrive in India in 2027.

The GLC Electric will expand Mercedes-Benz’s battery-electric portfolio in India while bringing one of the brand’s core global SUV nameplates into the EV market.