Mercedes-Benz Expects Double-Digit Sales Growth in India

German luxury car maker Mercedes-Benz expects sales growth in India to be double-digital in the current financial year. Mercedes-Benz holds the first position in the country’s luxury car market. It plans to take advantage of the increasing demand for premium cars.

This week the company has launched Maybach GLS 600 4MATIC SUV and AMG S 63 E Performance Edition in the country. In the last financial year, Mercedes’ sales in the country had increased by almost 10 percent on year-on-year basis to 18,123 units. The company’s sales between January and March this year were 5,412 units, an increase of about 15 percent. Lance Bennett, VP (Sales and Marketing) of the company’s unit in the country, said that there is strong demand for Mercedes’ top-end models. “We expect double-digit growth in sales this financial year also,” he said. Mercedes plans to launch 12 cars this year.

Mercedes says the increasing demand for high-end luxury cars like the Maybach GLS 600 4MATIC SUV and the AMG S 63 E Performance Edition is indicative of the growing popularity of the segment. The premium vehicle segment includes vehicles priced at Rs 1.5 crore and above. The company will also emphasize on EV to increase sales.

Mercedes launched the first electric car EQC in the country. Since then, the share of EV in its sales has increased to about four percent. Last year, Mercedes had made record deliveries of cars during the festive season. This indicated a strong response from customers. Mercedes was helped in increasing the pace of sales by the launch of new and updated models. The company claims that out of every four vehicles sold in the country, one is a top-end vehicle. The company is expected to contribute about 25 percent to its total electric vehicles (EV) sales from the country by 2027. India is the fifth largest market abroad for the company. Mercedes’ new EV models will be a mix of fully built units imported and fully knocked down units assembled at the company’s Chakan plant in Maharashtra.

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