Mercedes-Benz and adidas have joined forces on a limited-edition version of the Samba OG, combining the German automaker’s design cues with one of the sportswear brand’s most recognisable sneaker silhouettes. Available online and in selected adidas stores from 13 October, the collaboration also marks the beginning of a wider strategic partnership between the two brands.

The shoe was first announced in January, alongside the world premiere of the Mercedes-Benz S-Class as part of the marque’s 140th anniversary celebrations. The Samba, originally developed for football, has since become a fixture in everyday fashion, making it a natural choice for a collaboration that draws on both brands’ sporting and design heritage.

Automotive details meet a classic silhouette

The adidas Samba OG x Mercedes-Benz incorporates details inspired by the S-Class interior, most notably an upper featuring diamond stitching. The Mercedes-Benz logo appears on the tongue, while the sneaker is offered in three monochromatic colourways: Magic Beige, Grey Five and Black.

Rather than departing significantly from the Samba’s familiar shape, the design retains the established silhouette while introducing subtle references to Mercedes-Benz craftsmanship and interior detailing. The result brings together two products with distinct histories, one rooted in automotive engineering and the other in sport and streetwear.

For Mercedes-Benz, the collaboration forms part of a year marking 140 years of innovation, a milestone linked to the company’s role in the development of modern mobility. Adidas, meanwhile, continues to draw on the Samba’s long-standing appeal across sport and lifestyle, where its original function has given way to a broader cultural presence.

Christina Schenck, Mercedes-Benz AG’s vice-president of digital and communications and investor relations, said the partnership would seek to connect the brands’ respective communities and create opportunities for customers and fans.

Michael Batz, adidas’ motorsport category general manager, described the project as a reinterpretation of the Samba that preserves its defining character while introducing details associated with Mercedes-Benz.

The limited-edition release is the first step in a partnership expected to extend to further projects, although details of those initiatives have not yet been announced.