Mercedes-Benz India is sure that it will regain top spot in the luxury car market in India by 2016, and has said that not reacting fast enough to bring in smaller products was probably a mistake.
“It is clear we are not No 1 in the world or in India,” said Matthias Lührs, V-P, Sales, MB cars and Chairman of Board of Directors, Mercedes-Benz India. The company was putting into place initiatives to regain the position globally by 2020, he said. He added, “In India, it will be earlier. We are sure we can achieve it by 2015-16.”
Earlier today, Eberhard Kern took over as Managing Director MBI from Peter Honegg who returns to Stuttgart to take charge of a new assignment.
Mercedes Benz will be launching 13 new product lines worldwide until 2015 and most will be introduced in India, Luhrs said.
Amongst the new product lined up for launch in India are the diesel version of the B-Class, petrol and diesel variants of the A-Class and the new diesel E-Class. The petrol variant of the B-Class, introduced as a CBU unit earlier this year has sold 250 units, Luhrs said.