Mercedes-Benz Philippines marked the brand’s 140th anniversary with an evening that put automotive heritage and contemporary Filipino gastronomy on the same table, while introducing Michelin-starred chef Chele González as its newest brand ambassador.
Held at the Mercedes-Benz flagship showroom in Greenhills, San Juan, the “Welcome Home: A Culinary Journey Through 140 Years of Innovation” event brought together historic vehicles and a five-course dining experience created by González.
The Spanish-born chef, who has built his career in the Philippines, is behind Gallery by Chele and Asador Alfonso, both of which have earned Michelin recognition. His new partnership with Mercedes-Benz is built around shared themes of innovation, precision, craftsmanship and excellence.
For the anniversary event, González interpreted the personalities of five significant Mercedes-Benz vehicles through food rather than attempting to make literal replicas of them. The culinary journey started with the Patent Motorwagen and an amuse-bouche called “Ignition,” before moving through the Mercedes-AMG SL, G-Class, S-Class Maybach, and finally the GLE 400e PHEV and EQE Sedan.
Each pairing was introduced through a film explaining the character of the featured vehicle and how that character influenced the ingredients, technique and presentation of the corresponding dish. The finale, “Evolution,” used a reworked Black Forest dessert to represent the meeting of combustion and electric power.
The automotive heritage on display was just as important. Six classic Mercedes-Benz models were parked outside the showroom, including the 1967 250 SE W108 SWB, 1968 280SL Pagoda, 1981 200 W123, 1982 380SL, 1984 W124 Cabriolet Final Edition and 2009 G550 W463 LWB.
Inside, the GLE 400e Plug-In Hybrid and Mercedes-AMG SL 55 4MATIC+ represented the marque’s current lineup. González also highlighted the GLE PHEV’s electric driving capability, family-oriented practicality and Burmester sound system during a conversation with event host David Celdran.
Mercedes-Benz Philippines also used the occasion to outline its local plans. Two new dealerships, Mercedes-Benz Alabang and Mercedes-Benz Cebu, are scheduled to open before the end of 2026, both adopting the company’s Mercedes Architectural Rendition 20X identity.
Looking ahead to 2027, the company said it will announce new models and relaunch Mercedes-Benz Greenhills with the same updated showroom concept.
The celebration ultimately connected Mercedes-Benz’s history with its next chapter, using González’s cuisine as an unconventional way to show how heritage, technology, and craftsmanship can continue evolving without losing their identity.
Autocar’s Take
Mercedes-Benz Philippines found an interesting way to make a 140th anniversary celebration feel less like a corporate milestone and more like an experience. Bringing Chef Chele González into the picture gave the event a distinctly Filipino flavor, while the historic Mercedes-Benz cars provided the visual reminder of how far the brand has come.
More importantly, the announcement of new dealerships in Alabang and Cebu, along with new models planned for 2027, gives the celebration some substance beyond the dinner itself. The brand ambassador partnership also makes sense within this theme, connecting automotive craftsmanship with another discipline built around precision and creativity.
