Mercedes Targets to Double its Sales in India This Year

Sales of Mercedes-Benz, one of the big luxury car companies, had increased by about 10 percent in India last year. The company had recorded record sales with 17,408 units. This year Mercedes plans to launch 12 cars. It has set a target of doubling its sales this year.

Last year the company sold more SUVs than sedans. In a media report, the company's Vice President (Sales and Marketing) in the country, Lance Bennett, has been quoted as saying that Mercedes will launch 12 cars this year. Three of these will be electric vehicles (EV). The company will focus more on launching premium vehicles in the country as these vehicles accounted for almost one-fourth of its total sales last year. 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. It can launch Maybach EQS in this segment. Its price can be around Rs 4 crore. 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 is getting good demand for its top-end variants. In this category, Mercedes has models like AMG SL55 Roadster, AMG GT 63 SE Performance and G-Class. The company claims that out of every four vehicles sold in the country, one is a top-end vehicle.

Recently the company had said that it plans to launch four new electric vehicles in the country. These will be a mix of fully built units being imported and fully knocked down units being assembled at the company's Chakan plant in Maharashtra. Mercedes expects the country to contribute about 25 percent to its total electric vehicles (EV) sales by 2027. It sells four luxury electric vehicles, EQS, EQB, EQC and EQS AMG.