Mercedes-Benz India on Thursday added its most luxurious electric vehicle (EV) — the EQS Maybach 680 —priced upwards of ₹2.5 crore to its portfolio of EVs, which has seen a 5 per cent penetration in its overall sales.

With the EQS Maybach, Mercedes will have five EVs in its portfolio comprising the EQA, the EQB, the EQE, the EQS 580 and now the EQS Maybach.

The company is slated to add the EQG, the costliest e-SUV that will retail from ₹3 crore onward, at the end of the year.

Commenting on EV adoption, Mercedes Benz India CEO and managing director Santosh Iyer welcomed G20 sherpa Amitabh Kant’s recent statement on the continuation of the 5 per cent GST on EVs.

Iyer called for further incentives for EVs from the state governments. “The state governments should follow the central government and continue to waive road tax for EVs.

“Telengana, which used to waive road tax for EVs, saw a 10 per cent EV penetration. However, it withdrew the road tax waiver recently.”

When asked about EV contribution to its sales, Iyer said: “Our EV penetration rose from 2.5 per cent to 5 per cent last year.

“The rate of adoption will depend on three things, namely continued government support, our product offerings and customer transition.

“As more and more EVs are launched in the mass market and in the luxury segment, customer anxieties will be addressed.

“With the EQS Maybach, Mercedes now has a product in every segment.”