Mercedes’ new electric SUVs land the ASB Classic gig

Mercedes-Benz has signed on as official automotive partner of the ASB Classic from 2027, and the courtesy fleet doing the airport runs will be built from the newest metal in its showroom.

The brand will supply the fleet moving players, officials and VIP guests around Auckland during the January tournament, built around its larger SUVs, including the new generations of the GLE and GLS. The all-new electric GLC, and potentially more of the incoming electric range, will be showcased at the event.

The electric GLC is the biggest of the arrivals for Mercedes-Benz. The battery-powered version of the brand’s best-selling SUV arrives before the end of this year, with order books already open from $128,900. Its 94kWh battery gives up to 713km of WLTP range, and an 800-volt architecture allows charging at up to 330kW, enough to add around 300km in the time it takes to queue for a courtside coffee. The dual-motor GLC 400 4Matic produces 360kW and covers 0-100km/h in 4.3 seconds, and it lands squarely in a fight with BMW’s incoming iX3, the Volvo EX60 and Porsche’s Macan Electric.

“We are excited to begin this journey with the ASB Classic and look forward to playing a role in enhancing the experience for players, guests and fans for years to come,” says Helen Sunley, general manager of Mercedes-Benz New Zealand. “With an exceptional line-up of new models arriving in New Zealand, the timing could not be better.”

The partnership extends Mercedes-Benz’s global tennis involvement, built on its long-term relationship with the Women’s Tennis Association, into New Zealand. The Auckland summer tournament has quietly become one of the more contested trophies in the car business itself: Lexus held the vehicle sponsorship through the 2025 and 2026 tournaments, Jaguar took it from 2019, and BMW had it in the mid-2010s.