Mercedes S-Class price cut by Rs. 18 lakh as local assembly begins

German luxury car maker Mercedes Benz today announced commencement of assembly of the S-Class sedan in India and has slashed the car's price by Rs. 18 lakh.

The locally produced S 500 model will be priced at Rs. 1.39 crore (ex-showroom, Delhi) and will be rolled out from the manufacturing facility in Chakan, Pune, Mercedes-Benz India said in a statement, adding that this strategic move will help to cater to the increasing demand.


In January, the company had launched the new S-Class luxury sedan in India at Rs. 1.57 crore (ex-showroom, Delhi) and it was fully imported.


The company has already sold out the 125 units of the launch edition allocated by its German headquarters for India. The new S-Class currently has a waiting period of approximately 3 months, it added.

The company has advanced the plan to locally assemble the S-Class by a couple of months due to robust demand and has opened bookings for deliveries in June.

Currently, Mercedes-Benz India locally produces S-Class, E-Class, C-Class, GL-Class and the M-Class, while it imports completely built units of the A-Class, CLS-Class, SLK-Class and the luxury tourer B-Class, among others.

Read More »

Mercedes-Benz rally leaves Mumbai awestruck

The morning of February 16 saw a strange but pleasant concoction of emotions at the Shaman Mercedes Churchgate service station as around 30 timeless four-wheeled beauties from Mercedes-Benz started their journey in a motorcade towards Shaman Mercedes showroom on CST Road, Kalina. The motorcade was flagged off by Hormazad Sorabjee, chief editor of Autocar Magazine, and Jatin Sheth, chairman of Group Shaman.

The rally, organised by The Mercedes-Benz Club of India and Shaman, was to celebrate the lineage of these cars and give a glimpse of the history of perfection and craftsmanship that has backed brand Mercedes-Benz for many generations now. The Mercedes Benz Club of India is the only club in India to be recognised by Mercedes Benz, Germany, and is also known as the 3 Pointers Club. Shaman, one of the most reputed and leading Mercedes-Benz dealerships in India having its showrooms at BKC and Shiva and state-of-the-art service centers in Churchgate and Karina, has joined hands with the club to promote the spirit of Mercedes.

Cars like the 1938-170 V and older models of S classes generated lots of curiosity and excitement among Mumbai as the beauties made their way through the traffic. The cars stopped for a while at World Sea Face but had to leave earlier than planned as it became difficult to manage the swelling crowd of enthusiasts.

The cars finally arrived at The Shaman Mercedes showroom in Karina where they were kept on display for the guests. Also on display were the original Mercedes-Benz boutique items, which were purchased by the guests in large numbers. There were many Mercedes-Benz owners who enrolled themselves into the club, members of which can boast of some rare and vintage collection of cars from Mercedes-Benz.

"It is a privilege to associate with The Mercedes-Benz Club of India as we feel it holds lots of potential and adds value to the Mercedes-Benz customer," said Group Shaman director Mar Seth.

Read More »

Mercedes Benz to come up with traffic alert system in India

Mercedes Benz is all set to introduce a technology that would enable communication between two cars and also between driver and manufacturer, a top official of the German Luxury car maker said.

"You get more and more connectivity between cars as well as between manufacturer and driver. We are developing an integrated system called 'My Mercedes'. This system gives all participants using an automobile a possibility to communicate (with one another). 

"There will be more and more communications coming up," Eberhard H Kern, Managing Director and CEO, Mercedes Benz India told PTI during his recent visit here.

Kern added that their Research and Development centre in Bangalore would play a key role in developing the technology.

According to a press release issued earlier this month by the company, each vehicle will be fitted with Car-to-X communication and it can transmit information on dangers to other road users and therefore contribute to enhancing the road safety.

Mercedes Benz passenger cars are able to detect many of these dangers automatically and without the driver being required to take any action. For dangers which are not detected automatically, an efficient manual notification option has been created.

At the press of a button, immobile vehicles or animals on the road, wrong-way drivers or shed loads can be notified via the Mercedes Cloud. This then sends a warning message to all vehicles fitted with Car-to-X technology which are in the vicinity of the hazardous location.

"I can't tell you the exact date when it is going to come. But we can expect it in near future. There is a lot of development going on and the Mercedes Benz research and development centre in Bangalore has a big stake in it."

"We have more than 1,200 developers (in the R&D Centre) and it is the biggest development of Mercedes Benz outside Germany," Kern said when asked about the possible implementation of this technology in India.

Read More »

2014 Mercedes-Benz E-Class launching on June 25: Official

 

CarDekho has been constantly informing you about 2014 Mercedes-Benz E-Class, and now the company has officially announced that it will be launched on 25th June. The German auto maker has already introduced new GL-Class SUV and A-Class premium hatch, and the new E-Class will be the third successive Merc launch this year.

 Since the new E-Class will be a mid-life facelift, there will only be major cosmetic changes, however, the company might also bring changes to the mechanics of the car. While talking about looks, the car looks similar to that of the vehicle unveiled at the 2013 Detroit Motor Show. Front fascia of the new E-Class will adorn a newly formulated grille, new headlights with LED daytime running lamps and few more upgrades, making it more aggressive than before. The bumper too gets a new design. The split headlamp assembly, which has now been fitted to form a single console, is the major evident change in the E-Class.

The rear too gets some upgrades like redesigned tail lamp cluster and exhaust tips. The interiors of the new E-Class will also witness some design changes, like upgrades to dashboard, steering wheel and control dials. If rumors are to be believed, there could also be an AMG model of the E-Class, however, it is quite early to comment on the same, we expect it be launched later.


It is also expected that new E-Class will be launched with two engine options - the 2.0-litre direct injection petrol motor that develops 184bhp, and a 2.1-litre diesel engine making 2014bhp. Both the engines will be coupled to Merc's 7G-tronic automatic transmission.

Read More »

Mercedes-Benz A-Class launched in Mumbai, wows the audience

The eagerly awaited Mercedes-Benz A-Class was launched at a glittering ceremony in Mumbai on May 30, 2013. Looking at the car, Mercedes-Benz India certainly seems to have provided what it promised, that is a car to showcase the ‘Pulse of the New Generation.’ There has been an overwhelming response on digital media such as Facebook and Twitter prior to the launch of this car. It has already been certified as a global success, as it has received more than 90,000 bookings within months of the launch.

Continuing with its product offensive for the year 2013, the A-Class embodies all the parameters that make Mercedes-Benz a world class luxury car brand. The eye-catching, youthful and aggressive design on the outside appears to herald a new breed of luxury hatchbacks for the Indian market. Most progressive design elements of this vehicle are its sporty emotive exterior and premium interiors. The new vehicle is available with service packages such as Star Ease and Star Care that are well known for setting high standards in the luxury segment.

The A-Class has best-in-class sporty interiors that can be witnessed in a hatchback. Sports seats appear to be F1 inspired. Sitting inside gives the actual feel of driving a sports car. Premium Artico leather has been used for the upholstery. Design of the cockpit appears to be inspired by the SLS AMG roadsters. With chrome vents at five different places on the dashboard, this certainly looks like a car built specifically for young and vibrant target customers. For entertainment and guidance purposes, a trailblazing infotainment system has been installed, which comes with a central 14.7 cm colour screen. This system is compatible with USB, AUX-in, Bluetooth, MP3/WMA/AAC, CDs and with the iPhone. In addition, the 341 litre boot space, though not exceptionally large, does well to carry luggage and equipment.

Read More »

Mercedes A-Class India review, test drive and video

With the race for the top spot among luxury carmakers heating up, Mercedes-Benz is switching strategy in India. Much like rivals Audi and BMW, the company is lowering the price point at which you can own a three-pointed star. To this end, it is about to launch its most affordable model, the A-class, at an estimated price of Rs. 20-23 lakh. And most significantly, the driver-focussed A 180 marks a change in Merc’s traditional approach – targeting the self-driven rather than the chauffeur-driven luxury car buyer.  

What’s more, the company will have the first-mover advantage in this segment, as rival BMW’s luxury hatchback, the 1-series, is expected here only later this year. The biggest hurdle in Mercedes’ path, however, is that Indians generally associate luxury cars with saloons, and more recently, SUVs. So the A-class’s success here hinges on more car buyers starting to accept premium hatchbacks as luxury offerings.

It certainly makes a good first impression – the A-class looks simply stunning. It’s a youthful, fresh design that is markedly different from the vast, regal look of traditional Mercs. The grille comprises 302 diamond-shaped aluminium bits, the headlamps are flared, and bold cuts and slashes run along the side of the car. The youth-focussed design continues with the wide haunches at the rear, the low roof, twin exhaust pipes and 17-inch smoked grey alloys.

The 1.6-litre turbocharged, direct-injection petrol engine under the hood of this A 180 powers the front wheels via a seven-speed, twin-clutch transmission. And, at 4,292mm long, 1,780mm wide and 1,433mm tall, it’s no ‘small car’; in fact it is almost as big as a Ford Fiesta saloon.


On the inside, there’s decent space in the rear by hatchback standards, although the sloping roof means the headroom is tight, and the small windows and black insides give it a cooped-up feeling. This back seat certainly won’t offer the comfort you associate with a luxury car, but then this car is meant to pander more to the driver.

The rest of the cabin is just as plush as an E-class, but feels far more modern. The SLS AMG-style triple air-con vents, the free-standing screen for the COMAND interface, the sculpted steering wheel and the chequered-design dials add to the youthful flair. The single-piece front seats are superbly snug, and the knobs, switches and stalks work precisely. The pedals are slightly offset, but this is made up for by the fantastic driving position. However, the steeply-raked windscreen and the small rear window compromise visibility, which is bothersome in traffic and when parking.

Read More »

Driving 2013 Mercedes Benz A Class A 180 Sport for India

Mercedes Benz India has already announced that the new A Class, will be launched on 30th May, 2013. To be offered in both, petrol and diesel variant, A 180 Sport and A 180 CDI respectively, Mercedes Benz says that the A Class is the pulse of a new generation. Here is what we think of the new Mercedes Benz A Class for India.

A lot has been said and written about the new A Class, which was first unveiled in March 2012 at the Geneva Motor Show. So, this was easily one of the most anticipated premium car launches this year. The first impression of the car, is of course it’s design. Attention has been paid to design this car (both interior and exterior) and the result is outstanding. Very easily, Mercedes Benz A Class will become the best looking hatchback in the country, once launched.

Exterior Design and Size: The special black front grille is the first to grab your attention. It features a total of 302 diamond resembling pins, which are placed in a progressive manner, and helps the car to get a arrow-inspired sporty look. This grille features a big three pointed star logo at it’s center. The bi-xenon headlights with ‘Flare Effect’ LED daytime lamps are well fitted in the front.

From the side, A Class has a coupe style curved roof. It also has a side-line which adds to the aggressive look of the car and so does it’s bi-color light alloys. At the rear are a muscular bumper and rear splitter while tail lights come with a surface finish to enhance air flow around the vehicle, due to airflow break away function at the rear. Overall design is sporty and the new A Class has a drag coefficiency of 0.27. The vehicle spells success with its outstanding design.

The new A Class measures 4,292 mm in length, 1,780mm in width and 1,433mm in height. The wheelbase of the vehicle is 2,699 mm. This makes this new car as the biggest hatchback in India, easily beating the existing version of Hyundai i20. Turning radius is at 5.5 meters, while boot space is at 341 liters. In the boot, you will see the spare tyre, which makes it difficult to carry luggage for 4 or five when heading out for a weekend of a long drive.


Interior Design: Even though, the new A Class is the smallest Mercedes Benz car today (and probably the most affordable), do not make the mistake of thinking even once that there is any compromise done in making this car. From the inside, A Class features black interiors, F1 inspired leather sports seats with contrast stitching, classic Mercedes Benz design for the dashboard, panoramic sunroof, ergonomic cockpit, premium quality on the inside, and emotive dashboard design.

For your multimedia and navigations needs, the A Class features a 14.7 cm TFT display with 800×480 resolution. In the stowage compartment, you will find the AUX-in and USB ports. You can also play music via Bluetooth and all the controls are also present on the multi-function steering wheel, which is covered with leather. The car is fitted with six speakers which are placed perfectly to offer pristine listening experience.


The driver seat has electronic controls for adjustment while the passenger front seat has manual controls. The car is spacious from the inside, and can accommodate 5 with decent legroom, though headroom for the rear-window seat passengers is compromised when there are three people sitting on the rear seats.

Speaking about the uncomfortable part, rear seats’ back support is fixed in a rather upright position, which makes you sit tight and with an erect back. This has been done, probably to offer a decent boot space (which otherwise would have been minimized). Under thigh support too is not good, especially for taller passengers. Air conditioning is good with five vents in the front and two in the rear, which makes the cabin cool in no time. Overall, it is impressive and very quiet once you are inside the new A Class.

Read More »

Mercedes-Benz A-Class to get 1.6 litre and 2.2 litre engines in India

Up till now, it was known that six different engines for the new Mercedes A-Class are on offer globally, but it was not known which of these would be used for the India-spec model. Now it has been revealed that a 1.6 litre petrol and 2.2 litre diesel engine will be used for the A-Class, which will be officially launched in the country on May 30, 2013.

As part of the company's promotion plans, the A-Class is being previewed for select audiences at different Mercedes-Benz showrooms in the country, the latest private launch party having taken place in Chennai. With this affordable luxury hatchback, Mercedes-Benz India will attempt to gain back some of the market share it has lost to fellow German rivals BMW and Audi over the years. Similar to other Mercedes-Benz launches, the new A-Class would also be brought to India as a Completely Built Unit (CBU) with an AMG body kit, but later it may be available as a Completely Knocked Down (CKD) unit.

On the engine front, the A-Class petrol, known as A180, would get a 1.6 litre turbo motor, capable of churning out a maximum power of 121 bhp. On the other hand, the diesel variant, A 180 CDI, would be fitted with a 2.2 litre diesel motor, generating 118 bhp of power, coupled with a torque of 250 Nm. The petrol version also comes with a 7-speed DSG automatic gearbox, but it is not known whether this transmission will be present in the diesel variants or not. In addition, the diesel version would also be capable of returning a fuel economy of about 20 kmpl.

In terms of pricing, the Mercedes-Benz A-Class is expected to be available at a price range from Rs. 18 lakh to Rs. 20 lakh. This price will also clash with a few D-segment sedans in the country. In the luxury hatchback segment, the new A-Class, which would be positioned just below the B-Class Sports Tourer and would take on upcoming BMW 1 Series and Audi A3 models.

Read More »

Boris Becker unveils new Mercedes-Benz 2013 GL-Class

The facelifted 2013 Mercedes-Benz GL-Class was recently launched by German tennis legend Boris Becker. Eberhard Kern, Managing Director (MD) and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Mercedes-Benz India, also graced the launch, held at Sundaram Motors, Bengaluru. The new GL-Class Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV) comes equipped with a lot of class-leading features and technology and showcases the new design philosophy of the German car maker.

Kern stated, “2013 is the ‘Year of Offensive’ for Mercedes-Benz India and we are very excited to present the all new GL-Class to our valued customers as part of our product offensive. Exclusivity and dynamism are two of the most enigmatic features of an ultimate SUV and the GL-Class represents them. We have already succeeded with the new M-Class and now the introduction of the new GL-Class will further strengthen our dominance in the luxury large SUV segment. The GL-Class with its proven off-roading prowess and luxurious appointments exudes the Absolute Supremacy statement during on and off-road situations and is ideal to suit the taste of the growing number of off-roading aficionados in India.”

He further added that with the inauguration of Sundaram Motors, the largest luxury car facility in Bengaluru, the company is looking to provide a world-class retail experience. This facility is also the part of Mercedes-Benz's plan to expand its dealership network in the country. Covering an area of 13000 sq.ft., this new facility is located at the Kasturba Road. This dealership was erected in a short time span of 12 months and attracted an investment of Rs. 8 crore. It is inclusive of a Mercedes Cafe, Kid's Zone, a massive 16 car display area, accessories arena and boutique collection. The dealership also offers car loans, car leasing facilities and insurance for a convenient ownership. As per Sharath Vijayaraghavan, Executive Director of Sundaram Motors, the dealership shares a long-standing relationship with Mercedes-Benz India, which spans over 12 years. In last ten years, this dealership has delivered around 2500 models of Mercedes-Benz to its customers and has been providing after sales services as well.


At the event, Boris Becker said, “The GL-Class is the cornerstone of achievement for anyone across the world. It is a true blue SUV and the ultimate machine for off-roading. My association with Mercedes-Benz goes back to more than two decades. I identify with the values of the Mercedes-Benz brand – fascination, perfection and responsibility. “

Read More »

Mercedes launches Performance Drive 2013

The Performance Drive 2013 has been around for a few years now, but the 2013 edition is different. It's a whole lot bigger, and in a very real way it has a concrete plan to help motorsport in India. Here's how.

The Mercedes Benz Performance Drive 2013 retains its traditional AMG track days at the Buddh international circuit, but an addition is the Corporate Track Day. The company has also inaugurated a specially created off-road track at their facility in Chakan outside Pune, where the capabilities of their SUVs can be demonstrated. Participants can then learn the basics of off-road driving as well.

This builds on the 'Star Drive experience', which will continue in different cities. What genuinely excites us are the international driving packages, two of which are a snow driving program that will be held in Sweden or a world tour in the G-Wagen.


Last but not the least are the racing-related programs. The AMG Driving Academy will train aspiring race drivers with the help of AMG machinery and race veterans. The Young Star Driver program is the biggest program of the lot: it aims to ultimately choose three youngsters between 15 and 25 years of age and offer them advanced race car driving training in Germany. This selection process will be done in association with the FMSCI, the authority on motorsport in India.  

Read More »

Mercedes Benz to launch 'Young Star Driving Programme' in India for aspiring race-drivers

Under increasing pressure from rivals BMW and Audi, both of which are ahead of it in India in terms of marketshare, Mercedes Benz is launching a series of experiential programmes, branded "Mercedes Benz Performance Drive", for different consumer segments.

For racing enthusiasts who'd like to learn the ropes, the German luxury carmaker is launching the first Indian chapter of its " Young Star Driving Programme". Aspiring race-drivers aged between 15 and 25 years can enroll for one or two-year courses and train with racing professionals on test tracks.

This programme - which aims to spot young stars for the formula 1 and DTM circuits - will be conducted in association with the Federation of Motor Sports Clubs of India, and is based on a nationwide evaluation process.

The top 12 drivers will be invited for a 2-day program at the Buddh International Circuit where their skill behind the wheel will be tested. Three out of these 12 candidates will then be selected for advanced training in Germany - which could be followed by professional training and finally the masters SLS AMG GT3 training.

"Each of the three levels builds up on the other and would be a door opener to get into professional racing," said Eberhard Kern, MD & CEO of Mercedes Benz India. The programme is free for selected stars as Mercedes is building a pool of young race drivers for the future, said Kern.


For regular-speed drivers - and those above 25 years of age - there's still a host of Mercedes experiences to choose from. Most of these are aimed at giving participants a better understanding of their SUVs.

For Rs 20,000 there's a one-day "Star off road SUV experience" at the Mercedes Benz plant in India. On a specially created off road test-track, participants will test off-roading skills and learn how to get the most out of their SUVs.

In the "Star Track experience" programme for two days, owners will get an opportunity to burn rubber on the Buddh international Circuit on a range of high performance AMG Cars. It's even structured like an F1 event, with a first day of qualifying rounds, followed by the opportunity for drivers to get trained on cornering, braking slalom and taxi rides.


For real enthusiasts - and the highest-end customers, Mercedes offers international events as well. There's a chance to drive the iconic G wagon over natural terrain and obstacles - including down a mountainside. A winter driving experience near the arctic circle in Arjeplog, Sweden is a training programme that uses various AMG models for a four-day event.

Read More »

Mercedes A Class BlueEfficiency is the most fuel efficient Mercedes ever!

 

Not content with the 90,000 booking of the Mercedes A-Class, Mercedes has introduced a BlueEfficiency version of the premium hatchback. Of the two BlueEfficiency variants, it seems that the diesel one is the most frugal Merc ever!

In simple words, the Mercedes ‘BlueEfficiency’ models are the exact opposites of the AMG variants. The BlueEfficiency badge is endowed to select Mercs which are kinder to the environment as they sip less fuel and emit less CO2.

Mercedes has added two BlueEfficiency variants to the A-Class line-up – Mercedes A180 CDI (Diesel) and A180 BlueEfficiency (Petrol)

Mercedes A180 CDI (Diesel) is powered by a Renault-sourced 1.5 dCI (K9K) engine which puts out 109 bhp/260 Nm. It claims a fuel economy of 33.16 kmpl and CO2 emissions of 92g/km

Mercedes A180 (Petrol) is powered by 1.6 L petrol engine which puts out 122 hp/200 Nm. It claims a fuel economy of 22.95 kmpl and CO2 emissions of 120g/km

Read More »

Mercedes-Benz to enter premium segment with A-Class

Mercedes-Benz India on Friday said though the environment in the automobile industry is still challenging, it sees growth with new launches lined up.

“”We are okay with our positioning in the Indian market and we have some interesting launches in the premium segment. We will enter the premium segment with A-Class this summer,” Eberhard H. Kern, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Mercedes-Benz India, told reporters here.


He said though the A-Class will enter the Indian market for the first time, it will be a refreshed version. The compact sports utility vehicle will compete with BMW’s X1.


Eberhard said the company will launch new GL, CLA, E-Class and diesel variant of the B-Class within this calendar year. The launches will start next month.

Meanwhile, he also said the company supports Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) on not including automobile sector in the proposed free trade agreement (FTA) with the European Union.

He said the company may consider making its facility at Chakan, Maharashtra, as an export destination if FTA comes into effect for the auto sector.

Mercedes-Benz India inaugurated its largest showroom in the country built in an area of 60,000 sq ft in New Delhi. It has spent Rs 70 crore on the new showroom.

Read More »

Mercedes-Benz to Raise Prices in India

Daimler AG’s Mercedes-Benz luxury-car unit said Tuesday that it will increase its vehicle prices in India by between 1% and 3% from Jan. 14 to counter higher costs.

Mercedes-Benz India Pvt. Ltd. said also that it sold 7,138 vehicles in 2012. The company didn’t provide its sales data for the previous year.

“Rising inputs cost, volatility of the rupee-euro, high interest rates and other associated factors have put significant pressure on us,” said Eberhard Kern, managing director and chief executive at Mercedes-Benz India.

The company said it will increase the price of its B-Class hatchback by 1.0%, C-Class and E-Class sedans by 1.5% each and its S-Class sedan by 3.0%.

Luxury-car maker Audi AG last week said it would increase the prices of all its vehicle models in India with effect Tuesday. BMW AG also plans to raise its vehicle prices this month.

Read More »

Mercedes launches Sports Tourer B-Class in sub-Rs 25 lakh segment

 

German luxury car-maker Mercedes, which on Tuesday entered the Rs 25-lakh premium segment by launching the B-Class, said it expects a flat growth in the luxury car segment this year as the past eight months have not been encouraging.

"The growth in the luxury car segment has been flat in the first eight month of the year. We sold around 7,500 units last calendar year and this year too we are likely to end up with the same numbers," Mercedes Benz India sales and marketing director Debashis Mitra said.


He was talking to reporters after launching its first under Rs 25 lakh model, the B-Class Sports Tourers.


The German auto major has priced the petrol variants of the B-Class -- B 180 and B 180 Sport -- in the Rs 21.49-24.87 lakh (ex-showroom price Mumbai) range.


At present, the luxury car market stands at 25,000 units per annum but is expected to touch 2.5 lakh units by 2020. Out of this, Mercedes commands 23 per cent market share currently.

Mitra, however, said the recently announced measures to perk up the economy may change the situation a bit adding the luxe car market is all about sentiment.


He said the premium segment or the Rs 25-30 lakh segment has, however, clocked good growth and the segment has seen competition too.


According to Mitra, the company will start assembling its M-Class range from October at its Pune plant which will be followed by GL-Class from next year.


Besides, the B-Class assembly may also commence from end 2013, he said.

Read More »

Mercedes-Benz to increase investments in India to Rs 850 crore by 2014

German automobile manufacturer Mercedes-Benz on Wednesday said it plans to increase investment in India to Rs 850 crore by 2014.

The company, which has already spent in excess of Rs 600 crore, plans to invest another Rs 250 crore in its Chakan facility near Pune for local production of a range of products, including sports utility vehicle (SUV) M-Class.


"The investment will help strengthen production and operational capabilities of existing products, and of our exciting and aggressive product (new) offensive, which we are readying for the Indian market," said Peter T. Honegg, managing director and chief executive, Mercedes-Benz India.

According to the company, the investments will be completed by 2014 for local manufacturing of M-Class.


The India manufacturing would be among the first productions outside Mercedes' parent, Daimler's mother SUV plant in Alabama, USA.

Mercedes has, however, fallen behind rivals BMW and Audi in terms of sales, as the other two companies have introduced aggressively priced products.


Sales of Mercedes-Benz's cars fell to 1,257 cars behind Audi's 1,908 cars sold during April to June 2012. BMW stayed in the lead with 2,088 units sold.


Currently, the company manufacturers sedans like C-Class, E-Class and S-Class in its Chakan plant. The company plans to produce cars locally to beat rivals in terms of price.


"Mercedes-Benz India's aggressive growth plan includes the local manufacturing of several new models in the coming years, beginning with the new M-Class," said Piyush Arora, director (technical), Mercedes-Benz India.

The company added that its new paint shop at Chakan would be operational by October 2012. It will have a production capacity of 20,000 units annually, which can be scaled up to 40,000 units. The company currently has a network of 72 sales outlets across 31 cities.

Read More »

Mercedes to start assembling M and G-Class in India

Mercedes has confirmed that they will start local assembly of the new M and G Class SUVs in India. While local assembly for the M-Class will start as early as November this year, the bigger G-Class assembly operations will begin sometime next year. The idea behind the semi-knocked down assembly is to attract lower import duties as compared to CBU and price the cars very competitively. These kits are produced in Tuscaloosa, prepared for shipping and sent on their journey to the final assembly plants. This is the first time that the M-Class and G-Class will be assembled outside of Tuscaloosa, USA. Mercedes' facility at Stuttgart will continue to supply the engine and transmissions.

Wolfgang Bernhard, member of the board of management of Daimler AG said, Our new SUVs are very popular with our customers. We expect high growth rates also in the emerging markets and therefore extend our local production. Thus, we open up new potential as part of our growth strategy. 

Read More »

Mercedes to assemble M, GL-Class in India

NEW DELHI: German auto major Daimler today said it will start assembly of its luxury sports utility vehicles M and GL-Class from Mercedes-Benz's portfolio in India by next year.

Besides, the company will also start assembling the SUV in two South East Asian countries -- Thailand and Indonesia.


"The necessary preparations at the selected three production sites in India, Thailand and Indonesia are proceeding full steam ahead. 


"Later on in the year, final assembly of the M-Class using SKD kits will start there for the respective local market," Daimler said in a statement on its website.


The kits for the SUVs are imported from Tuscaloosa in the US, it added.


"For the first time, Daimler will start the final assembly of the SUV model series for the new Mercedes-Benz M-and GL-Class outside the SUV parent plant in Tuscaloosa/ Alabama, USA," the company said.

Following the start of production of the M-Class in India, Thailand and Indonesia this year, the first units of the new GL-Class made from semi knocked down kits will be roll out from the assembly lines in India and Indonesia in 2013, the statement said.


At present, Mercedes-Benz assembles its luxury sedans C, E and S-Class at its facility near Pune in Maharashtra.

Commenting on the plans, Daimler AG member of the board of management Wolfgang Bernhard said: "Our new SUVs are very popular with our customers. We expect high growth rates also in the emerging markets and, therefore, extend our local production. Thus, we open up new potential as part of our growth strategy."

Read More »

Big Merc comes to town

LUCKNOW: The 'aspiration' to own a luxury car, coupled with higher incomes, has made the Tier II and Tier III cities the potential markets for luxury driving. The emerging cities of UP are no exceptions. In lure of good business prospects, luxury car manufacturers are investing in the state to capture the market hitherto untapped.

In order to reach out to newer markets and customer base beyond metros, Mercedes-Benz India finally arrived in the city of nawabs with the launch of its first dealership -- Smart Hoops -- in Lucknow.

"The inauguration of Smart Hoops Lucknow is part of Mercedes-Benz's aggressive expansion of its network presence across the country", said Debashis Mitra, director, sales and marketing, Mercedes-Benz India. He said Mercedes-Benz had seen a strong demand for its products and its customer base had grown in this region. "As part of our India growth strategy we are expanding our network aggressively and plan to inaugurate five new dealerships in coming months," he said.

Although Mercedes has launched its first show room in UP just now, the German auto giants Mercedes, BMW and Audi, which account for a sizeable chunk of luxury car market in the country, have fairly good number of buyers for their high-end products in the state.

Read More »

Mercedes-Benz B-Class Review

Mercedes-Benz's lack of an entry-level luxury car in the Indian market will soon be a thing of the past. Right now, it only has the C-Class in its arsenal to take on the fight with its competitors - BMW, MINI and Audi. Boosting the choice within its portfolio, but at lower price points, will be new models starting first with the B-Class, which will be launched in September / October this year.

Later, by early 2014, the new A-Class will join the team here and the new compact sedan (supposedly called the CLA) will also be part of the portfolio months later. These cars are expected to help Mercedes bridge the gap and attract a new class of customers who are currently not being catered to, due to the price barrier.


The first to join Mercedes-Benz India's new line-up will, of course, be the B-Class. With this ‘Sports Tourer’, which can also be viewed as a compact luxury MPV, the company will expect to create a new segment. Whichever way you look at it, the B-Class is likely to attract a lot of attention due to its unique body style. Mercedes officials say that the new B is likely to be priced in the region of Rs 25 lakh and that the company is very clear that though imported, the car will be priced in the same range as it would be if assembled locally.


That is good news and it is timely too, and it could enable Mercedes to take on competition from the Audi Q3, BMW X1 and the MINIs.


The B-Class has held a unique position in Mercedes-Benz's line-up globally. Like the CLS, it is one more of those body styles that Mercedes designers and engineers managed to mould to be special, to create a strong new sub-segment and eventually to be emulated. But, inside, the 'B' is based on the A-Class and even shares some of the smaller sibling's parts and features.


The B-Class has the classic Mercedes design lines all around it. Very MPV-like and hatchback-like traits are there, too, like the sharply rising A-pillar, the almost straight roofline and near vertical tailgate. This is possibly also the reason why these features make the B-Class look more like a large conventional hatchback when viewed up close. It is also not a midget in comparison to the next car in the Merc line-up. In fact, the B-Class' width and wheelbase are marginally higher than the C-Class'.


Short overhangs at the front and the rear, and the compact bonnet section are the characteristics that catch your eye first. As a result, the B-Class' front is strikingly Tourer like. Wrap-around headlamps with the classic Merc combination of lenses and LEDs, and the familiar bonnet grille design would have led you into thinking that it has more in common with the C-Class sedan. That is until you see the sharply rising bonnet slab that goes on to meet an equally sharply rising A-pillar. The wide bonnet creases and the two slatted grille in chrome with the three-pointed star in the middle visually enhances the B-Class' width and stance. The curvy, flared wheel-arches also add to this perception of width.

Read More »