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Mercedes to roll out India’s costliest car at Rs 7.9 million

V Phani Kumar

Mercedes-Benz India is all set to introduce its top-of-the-line S-500 L, a variant of the company's popular S-Class, at a price between Rs 7.6 million and Rs 7.9 million.

The S-500 L will replace the S-320 L, manufactured in the country and priced Rs 5.37 million (ex-Mumbai), as the most powerful and costliest car available in India.

Mercedes is simultaneously planning to launch the S-320 CDI (diesel)—another S-Class variant—that is likely to cost Rs 5.4-5.8 million.

These S-Class variants are two of the ten new cars that Mercedes plans to introduce in India by February 2002, through imports in the completely built unit form, regardless of the 105 per cent duty on new car imports.

According to Mercedes-Benz officials, it is taking the CBU route to fulfil the limited demand in the niche segment. The chosen 10 cars are currently being adapted to Indian conditions.

“We cannot neglect the limited demand for imported CBUs. We believe there exists a top segment of customers who would like to own a Mercedes car. We may not be in a position to manufacture these cars in India because of limited volumes. We will make those cars available through our CBU programme,” senior company officials told Business Standard.

The other models lined up for launch include two new variants each of the E-Class and the C-Class. Others waiting for a debut include the Mercedes CLK (a convertible) and the SLK (a sports car), the latter coming to India for the first time. Some versions of the E and C class are manufactured in India.

Mercedes will be launching a sports coupe version of the C-Class, the C-200 K, at around Rs 2.8-3.2 million, in addition to the C-200 K sedan, which will cost Rs 3-3.6 million. These versions are more powerful than the C-180, currently offered in two variants in India, at Rs 1.9-2.1 million.

The E-320 (petrol) and E-270 (diesel) are two new powerful variants of the E-Class to be launched in the price range of Rs 4.35-4.6 million and Rs 3.75-4.1 million, respectively.

The other models to be launched are the M-Class variants (sports utility vehicles), the ML 270 (diesel) and the ML 320 (petrol), which will be priced at Rs 3.8-4.2 million and Rs 4.1-4.5 million, respectively.

The CLK 320 convertible and the SLK 230 K sports car will cost Rs 4.7-5.1 million and Rs 3.5-3.8 million, respectively.

October sales increase by 128 per cent

Mercedes-Benz India has registered a 128 per cent increase in sales during October 2001 at 105 units over that of October 2000, driven by strong C-class sales.

However, sales of its flagship S-Class and E-Class models fell during the month to 6 and 28 units respectively, against sales of 16 and 30 units during October last year, company officials said.

However, sales of its C-Class models during October at 71 units, made up for the decline in sales of other models.

As a result, Mercedes-Benz’ cumulative sales in the first 10 months of this year have registered a 65 per cent increase to touch 1,122 units, inclusive of imports in the completely built unit form. However, CBU imports have also fallen to just 60 units during the January-October period from 109 units during the same period a year earlier.

Cumulative sales of the S-Class S-320 L this year stood at just 70 units. The car, which was introduced towards the end of last year, played a key role in improving Mercedes-Benz’ bottomline last year. Mercedes had recorded profits of around Rs 200 million last year, the first time since it entered India about six years ago.

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