Mercedes-Benz Hopes to Maintain Momentum With 40 Per Cent Growth Rate

The company recently rolled out the locally assembled GLA-Class and added new assembly line at its production facility Chakan, Pune. With this new addition the Chakan plant is now the only such facility under the Mercedes umbrella across the world to have flexible assembly line under which it can roll out all the 6 models currently assembled locally.

Mercedes-Benz hopes to touch 40,000 units this year, clocking 21 per cent growth over the last year. However, the Society of Indian Automobile Manufactures (SIAM) expects only a moderate growth this fiscal.

Eberhard Kern, Managing Director and CEO, Mercedes-Benz India, said, "You have seen our numbers in the March quarter when our sales grew 40 per cent. The first two months of June quarter have been better than previous three months. And I hope this momentum continues going forward."

Mercedes regained the top spot after 5 years, beating Audi in the March quarter. It sold 3,566 units with a growth of 40 per cent year-on-year, while Audi sold only 3,181 units, up 10 per cent. With that being said, one must note that Audi continues to be the top luxury brand for the financial year 2015, though its lead over Mercedes has been reduced to just 79 units. In FY15, Audi sold 11,292 units, up 11.51 per cent over FY14, while Merc sold 11,213 units, up 17.5 per cent. As far as BMW, which lost its no. 1 position to Audi in 2012, is concerned - the Bavarian carmaker reportedly sold around 7,000 units in the past fiscal.

Mercedes-Benz India's plans for this year include 15 launches and about 83 sales outlet by December.

(With inputs from PTI)