Mercedes-Benz marked 140 years of automotive innovation in Kenya with the launch of its latest S-Class and a celebration of the brand’s global anniversary at Muthaiga Golf & Country Club in Nairobi.
CFAO Mobility Kenya hosted the event, which brought together German Ambassador to Kenya Sebastian Groth, Mercedes-Benz customers, business leaders and automotive enthusiasts as the luxury automaker celebrates a milestone dating to 1886, when Carl Benz patented the Motorwagen.
The Nairobi event forms part of Mercedes-Benz’s global “140 Years. 140 Places” campaign, under which three S-Class sedans are travelling more than 60,000 kilometers across six continents and 140 locations associated with the company’s history, innovation and global presence.
The expedition, which started in Stuttgart, Germany, has already covered more than 70 destinations, including cities and landmarks across Europe, the Americas, Asia and Southeast Asia. Kenya is among the selected stops before the vehicles return to Stuttgart in October 2026.
For Mercedes-Benz, the campaign provides a global showcase of its heritage while highlighting markets where the brand sees continued importance.
“Tonight is not simply about celebrating a number, it is about celebrating legacy,” Arvinder Reel, managing director of CFAO Mobility Kenya, said at the event. “A legacy that began in 1886, when Carl Benz patented the Motorwagen and fundamentally changed the way the world moves.”
Kenya has a long association with Mercedes-Benz. The brand has been represented in the country since 1949 through DT Dobie, which later became part of CFAO Mobility Kenya following the integration of CFAO Motors and DT Dobie in 2023.
The new S-Class was the centerpiece of the Nairobi event, positioning Mercedes-Benz’s flagship sedan as a showcase for the company’s latest technology, comfort, safety and connectivity features.
The model has traditionally served as a technology platform for Mercedes-Benz, with innovations introduced in the S-Class often influencing vehicles across the wider lineup.
Idrissa Diagne, general manager of Mercedes-Benz at CFAO Mobility Kenya, said the company would continue focusing on technology, safety and premium customer service.
“Together with our customers, enthusiasts, and communities, we are celebrating a historic milestone that honors the brand’s enduring legacy of innovation, engineering excellence, and pioneering spirit,” Diagne said.
CFAO Mobility Kenya’s current Mercedes-Benz lineup includes the C-Class, E-Class and S-Class sedans, alongside the GLC, GLE, GLS and G-Class SUVs. Its commercial range includes the Vito, V-Class and Sprinter vans.
The anniversary comes as luxury automakers increasingly compete not only on vehicle performance but also on technology, personalization and the broader ownership experience.
Reel said CFAO Mobility Kenya’s role extends beyond selling vehicles, with the distributor investing in technical capabilities, facilities and customer service.
“Our responsibility is not merely to sell you a Mercedes-Benz. Our responsibility is to earn the privilege of serving you,” Reel said.
The Kenya stop gives Mercedes-Benz an opportunity to connect its century-plus history with a market increasingly positioned as a regional commercial and innovation hub. For CFAO Mobility Kenya, the anniversary also provides a platform to reinforce its position as the local representative of one of the world’s best-known luxury automotive brands.
With the global expedition continuing toward its October return to Stuttgart, Kenya now forms part of Mercedes-Benz’s 140-year story — linking the company’s origins in the invention of the automobile with its latest generation of luxury mobility.