3 New Mercedes-Benz S-Classes Return To Germany After 9-Month, 65,000km Journey Across 55 Countries

Three new Mercedes-Benz S-Class flagship sedans, named Bertha, Carl and Gottlieb, have returned to the Mercedes-Benz Museum in Stuttgart, Germany, after completing an extraordinary global journey covering more than 65,000 kilometres across 55 countries on six continents.

The luxury sedans arrived at the museum on October 17, 2026, marking the culmination of the automaker’s “140 Years. 140 Places” expedition, which began on January 29, exactly 140 years after Carl Benz filed the patent for his pioneering automobile.

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Named after automotive pioneers Bertha Benz, Carl Benz and Gottlieb Daimler, the three sedans visited 140 destinations worldwide where Mercedes-Benz has a presence, as part of efforts to demonstrate the capabilities of the latest S-Class under demanding real-world driving conditions.

The journey lasted nearly nine months, with the three S-Class models travelling an average of approximately 450 kilometres per day during their intercontinental journey. Bertha and Gottlieb travelled separately for parts of the expedition before reuniting with Carl to continue the journey.

During the trip, the vehicles tackled challenging environments, including the Umling La mountain pass in India, at an altitude of approximately 5,800 metres. They also encountered monsoon conditions, flooded roads and rough, unpaved routes across parts of Africa.

“At the start of our global journey with our three S-Class models, we promised: We’ll see you on the road. At today’s ‘140 Festival,’ we look back with gratitude on many special encounters and unforgettable moments with customers, fans, and our teams around the world,” said Christina Schenck, Head of Digital & Communications and Investor Relations.

Their return was celebrated at “The 140 Festival” at the Mercedes-Benz Museum, where around 15,000 guests gathered to welcome the three sedans and witness the world premiere of the new Mercedes-AMG GT SUV. A convoy of 140 historic and modern Mercedes-Benz vehicles accompanied them on the final kilometres of their journey.

The convoy included a replica of the 1886 Benz Patent Motorwagen, the Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR Uhlenhaut Coupé, considered the world’s most valuable car, a Ponton 220 S, the futuristic C111 Experimental, the electric G-Class, the electric C-Class.

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