CFAO Mobility Kenya on 17 August 2026 hosted Mercedes-Benz customers and partners in Nairobi to mark 140 years since the company traces the origins of the modern motor car, alongside the local unveiling of the new Mercedes-Benz S-Class at Muthaiga Golf & Country Club.

According to CFAO Mobility Kenya, the event drew His Excellency Ambassador Sebastian Groth, Germany’s ambassador to Kenya, alongside business leaders, partners and automotive enthusiasts. The company said the anniversary milestone links back to 1886, when Carl Benz patented the Motorwagen.

The Nairobi event also served as Kenya’s stop on Mercedes-Benz’s global “140 Years. 140 Places” campaign, which the company said is taking three S-Class vehicles on a route spanning six continents. In the statement, CFAO Mobility Kenya said the vehicles are expected to travel more than 60,000 kilometres and visit 140 locations before the expedition returns to Stuttgart, Germany, in October 2026.

CFAO Mobility Kenya said the expedition had already visited more than 70 destinations, including European stops in Stuttgart, Brussels and Paris, routes through the Americas such as Buenos Aires, the Andes, New York and Miami, and multiple cities in China including Beijing, Jinan, Lianyungang, Suzhou and Shanghai. The company also listed additional stops across Asia and Southeast Asia, including Seoul, Vietnam, Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, Japan and Bhutan, as well as India.

For Kenya’s business landscape, the event underscores the continued focus by global automotive brands and their local distributors on the premium end of the market, as well as the importance of after-sales networks and customer service in sustaining demand. The stop also reflects the role of Nairobi as a regional hub for multinational brand activity and high-value consumer segments.

Arvinder Reel, Managing Director of CFAO Mobility Kenya, told attendees the anniversary was intended to highlight the brand’s history and ongoing evolution. “Tonight is not simply about celebrating a number, it is about celebrating legacy. A legacy that began in 1886, when Carl Benz patented the Motorwagen and fundamentally changed the way the world moves,” Reel said, according to the press release. He added that Mercedes-Benz’s 140-year journey demonstrated the importance of continually challenging what is possible in mobility.

Idrissa Diagne, General Manager for Mercedes Benz at CFAO Mobility Kenya, said the distributor would continue bringing new models and technologies to the market. “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. “As the authorised Mercedes-Benz distributor in Kenya, we remain committed to bringing our customers the latest advancements in safety, performance, connectivity, and luxury,” he added.

CFAO Mobility Kenya linked the event to its corporate history in Kenya, noting that its predecessor DT Dobie has represented Mercedes-Benz in the country since 1949. The company added that after the 2023 integration of CFAO Motors (formerly Toyota Kenya) and DT Dobie, the businesses now operate under CFAO Mobility Kenya Limited.

The company said the local product highlight was the unveiling of the new Mercedes-Benz S-Class. While CFAO Mobility Kenya did not disclose pricing or specifications for the Kenyan market in the statement, it positioned the model as Mercedes-Benz’s flagship platform for introducing innovations that later influence the wider automotive industry.

CFAO Mobility Kenya said its current Mercedes-Benz line-up in Kenya includes the C-Class, E-Class and S-Class saloons; GLC, GLE, GLS and G-Class SUVs; and Vito, V-Class and Sprinter vans.

Looking ahead, the next milestone for the wider campaign is the expedition’s return to Stuttgart in October 2026, after completing the remaining locations on its 140-stop route. Locally, the launch signals CFAO Mobility Kenya’s continued effort to refresh its premium portfolio while leaning on its after-sales footprint as a differentiator in Kenya’s competitive vehicle distribution market.