New Delhi:
German luxury auto major Mercedes-Benz expanded its product range in the domestic market on Wednesday with the launch of its new BSVI-compliant G-class sports utility vehicle (SUV), G350d. The G-Class is the top model among luxury off-road vehicles in the Indian market. The diesel variant will be priced at Rs 1.50 crore (ex-showroom).
With the addition G350d, which is the first non-AMG-diesel variant of the G-class, the car makers SUV portfolio now has eight models—GLA, GLC, GLE, GLS grand edition, AMG GLC 43 4MATIC, GLE coupe and AMG G63. We start our product offensive for 2019 today, and there cannot be a better vehicle to make an impression other then with the iconic G-Class.
“With the new G350d, we are offering over 15 speciality and AMG cars for our customers,” said Martin Schwenk, managing director and chief executive officer, Mercedes-Benz India at the launch. The launch of this vehicle further cement Mercedes-Benz top of pyramid product strategy for India, he said adding, “We have an exciting product offensive lined up for the last quarter of the year and we are confident of maintaining our leadership position in the luxury segment.”
Mercedes-Benz India crossed 10,000 unit-mark earlier this month in cumulative sales since January and thus maintained its segment leadership, despite the slowdown blues which the domestic automobile industry is going through for one-and-a-half years now. However, the volume in the April-September period of the year shrunk by about 16 per cent to 9,915 units as against 11,789 units delivered by the German car maker in the same period of 2018.
Earlier this year, Mercedes-Benz launched the BS-VI compliant Long Wheelbase E-Class sedan in India priced between Rs 57.5 lakh and Rs 62.5 lakh. The New Long Wheelbase E-Class features two BS-VI compliant petrol and diesel engines along with a host of new interior features.
The petrol version is powered by a 1,991-cc engine delivering 197 horsepower (HP) and comes in two variants priced at Rs 57.5 lakh and Rs 61.5 lakh, respectively. On the other hand, the diesel version has a 1,950-cc engine delivering 194HP and comes in two options priced at Rs 58.5 lakh and Rs 62.5 lakh, respectively (all prices ex-showroom).
Despite the current tough market conditions, Mercedes-Benz India, which sold 15,538 units in 2018, is hopeful that it would be able to sell more this year. The company claimed sales in India are currently muted but is expected to grow in the second half of 2019 after the General Elections in the country.
(With inputs from PTI)
