Mercedes Benz rolls out new E Class

Mercedes Benz rolls out new E-Class

Mercedes Benz India (MBIL) recently launched the next generation E-Class sedan in India — a product that it expects will significantly push up its share in the market favourably. Priced at Rs 46.98 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi), the new E-Class comes with a 3.5 litre V-6 petrol engine, which will be locally assembled at the company’s Pune plant.

MBIL has sold 10,983 units of the E-Class till date in India, and the W211, the model the
new E-Class replaces sold over 6,000 units.

A leader in the domestic luxury car market, MBIL is facing stiff competition from its German counterpart, BMW. MD and CEO, Mercedes Benz India, Wilfried Aulbur said, ‘Our focus in not on being the number one. Rather, we are focused on bringing new products to satisfy the needs of Indian customers, while remaining profitable in our business.’

While MBIL had sold 3,625 units in the Indian market in 2008, BMW had sold 2,908 units. In the first eight months of the year, however, BMW is leading the race with 2,305 units against Mercedes’ 2,026 units. Aulbur said its sales in India this year could be lesser than last year. ‘I don’t see higher sales this year. During the first half of 2009, our sales were impacted just like other players in the industry but we hope for a momentum in the second half and also a robust growth in 2010,’ he said.