Mercedes Benz expects India to be among its top ten global markets by 2020. The overall car market in the country will, by then, be 7 million units from the 2.6 million last year.
“We are getting future-ready by doubling our production capacity from the present 10,000 units to 20,000 by end of this year as we believe in the potential of Indian market. India will be among top ten global markets for Mercedes Benz by 2020 ,” said Mercedes Benz India Managing Director and CEO Eberhard Kern.“By 2020 the overall car market in India will be 7 million units, up from 2.6 million last year and the share of luxury segment will be 4 per cent by 2020 as compared to 1.2 per cent last year,” he added.
German carmaker sold 7138 units last year. Asked when the company is still to utilise its full capacity but it is doubling capacity, so does it mean that Mercedes Benz will locally assemble more carsIJ He said: “The company currently assembles S-class, E-class, C-class and Ml- class and it will decide on assembling more cars after it doubles the production.”
Mercedes Benz has decided to observe 2013 as the year of offensive marketing and the company is focussing on new product launches and network expansion.“We are targeting a double digit growth this year despite difficult times. As regards dealer network, we will add ten new outlets this year. We already have 57 showrooms in 32 cities across the country, which is the densest network for any lauxury car manufacturer in India,” he said.
“Mercedes will launch diesel version of B Class model followed by S Class later this year,” he informed.Mercedes launched its new E Class model priced between Rs 41.51 lakh and Rs 44.48 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi) and said it will look to reduce the time gap between global showcase of a new model and its launch in India as part of its aggressive business strategy for the country.
He said the E Class has been the company’s flagship model and with the launch of this new model, the company expects sales to grow further.