Mercedes Benz launches limited edition A, B class models in S India

Mercedes Benz India has launched limited edition A and B class cars in South India.

Both the cars would be diesel powered with only 100 such cars each to be made. The company is pitching the limited edition cars at youth.

Mercedes Benz India logged sales of 9,000 cars in 2013, and is expected to hit double-digit growth in 2014. The first quarter saw the company register over 27 per cent sales growth over the same period last year.

The A Class carries a price tag of Rs 28.4 lakh while the B Class is being offered at Rs 31 lakh ex-showroom.

The company said it was closely monitoring the foreign currency fluctuation and awaiting the union budget announcements, Business Line reported.

A and B Class Mercedes-Benz models, between them, form about 20 per cent of the company's cars sold in India.

The German luxury giant now looked to double-digit growth this year, on the back of a lowered entry price for the two new hatchbacks.

The two models, launched a year ago, have sold over 2,500 units of the A and B Class.

The luxury car maker, which is targeting sales of a minimum of 9,900 units this year, is the second-largest luxury car maker in the country after fellow German rival Audi.

The company, however, was struggling to meet the demand for the two models as its German mother plant looked to step up production. Though both models are fully imported, the company has localisation plans for India.                                                           

Business Standard quoted Boris Fritz, vice-president, sales and network development, Mercedes-Benz India, as saying around 20 per cent of the company's overall volumes were coming from the A and B Class. He added the company had many buyers who were young professionals and who were not only new to the Mercedes brand, but also to luxury.

Incremental demand for the two luxury hatchbacks last year, pushed sales 27 per cent to 2,554 units over the same period last year.

Last calendar year saw the company log 32 per cent growth in sales at 9,003, as compared to 6,840 units sold in 2012.