Mercedes Benz to launch four new SUVs in India in 2020
NEW DELHI: German luxury carmaker Mercedes Benz is on an offensive to launch multiple sports utility vehicles to participate in the growth story the segment has been scripting in the local market.
The company, which currently registers more than half its sales from sedans, will add four new SUV models in the ongoing calendar year to have more than half a dozen product offerings in the segment. These will include the GLA, GLC, GLC Coupe, GLE, GLE Coupe, GLS, G350d, G63 AMG.
Mercedes Benz India’s managing director Martin Schwenk said, “We closed 2019 registering good demand in the fourth quarter. We started this year with the unveiling of our electric brand EQ. We have got a lot of positive feedback. And today with GLE, we start our SUV offensive. We expect that 2020 will get us back on growth path.”
Mercedes Benz posted a decline of 11% to sell 13,786 units in 2019. The company is targeting growing volumes to regain peak sales of 15,538 units it had seen in 2018.
Schwenk was speaking on the sidelines of the launch of SUV GLE priced at Rs 73.7 lakh and Rs 1.25 crore (ex-showroom, India. The GLE will be followed by GLS is the second quarter and the GLA in the third quarter of the year. A fourth offering would be introduced in the course of the year.
The company, which has scheduled a total of 10 launches in 2020, will continue to offer diesel fuel options to its customers post the implementation of BS-VI Emission Norms. The company believes that diesel will continue to be driving force in the SUV space.
Diesel vehicles currently account for 75% of sales at Mercedes Benz India. The company does not expect the fuel mix to change significantly post the switchover to BS-VI.
