Mercedes-Benz records the best year ever in the company's history in India

Mercedes-Benz India today announced its strongest sales year in the company’s history in India by posting 10,201 units of sales. With this, the brand with the Three Pointed Star also recorded a growth of 13% over the corresponding period of 2013 (January-December 2013: 9,003 units). This is the second consecutive year that Mercedes-Benz has posted a double digit growth in India.
Eberhard Kern, Managing Director and CEO, Mercedes-Benz India commented: “We have recorded the highest ever sales in the history of Mercedes-Benzin India till date. This is a strong reaffirmation of the continued preference of our customers for the Three Pointed Star. With the ‘Year of Excellence’we brought excellence to our customers,who appreciated our efforts and helped us in accomplishing a sustained and profitable growth. We are satisfied that our customer oriented efforts have paid off well. With this second consecutive successful year, we are now more confident and focused on continuing our growth momentum in India, which we achieved amidst increasingly challenging market conditions.”

 

“In 2014 we witnessed a strong demand growth for our products, leading to long waitlist on some of the key products, which eventually limited our total sales numbers. Our aggressive product strategy saw 10 new launches, coupled with our strategic network expansion strategy which witnessed a record 14 new outlets inaugurated. Also, the fastest expansion of the AMG Performance Centre in three cities in three days, ensured we kept our patrons excited and fascinated with the brand through the year. Our industry best service packages combined with value added finance programmes from Mercedes-Benz Financial enabled us to create high satisfaction in the vehicle ownership and purchase experience.” Mr. Kern further added.

2014 was Mercedes-Benz India’s ‘Year of Excellence’aimedat bringing excellence in all areas of operation. Mercedes-Benz not only achieved its highest ever sales volumes in a single year, but also laid the foundation of a long-term sustained profitable growth for the Three Pointed Star in India. During the year Mercedes-Benz undertook several key initiatives to delight the customers.

As India’s fastest growing luxury car brand, Mercedes-Benz continued with its product offensive and launched 10 products during the year and witnessed a strong salesperformance amidst tough market conditions, as well as non-availabilityof key models. The year began with the launch of benchmark of modern luxury and Mercedes-Benz’s flagship model, the S-Class, which continued its popularity run.The sedan portfolio was further strengthened with the launch of the E350 CDI in the second half of the year providing the customers more options at the top end of the most preferred luxury sedan in India. The year ended on high with the launch of the all new C-Class, which saw an earlier than planned market entry, as the previous generation sold-out before plan owing to overwhelming customer response.

Along with robust demand for the youngest sedan portfolio, Mercedes-Benz also witnessed a strong growth momentum of the SUVs,as the segment remained the fastest growing in the company’s portfolio. All products including the ML-Class, GL-Class and the recently launched stylish luxury SUVGLA-Class,saw appreciable demand throughout the year.

In addition, the popularity of the SUVswas closely followed by the success story of the New Generation Carsconsisting of the A-Class and the B-Class, as the brand witnessed increased preference for these products from affluent young Indians.

The AMG range also witnessed four new launches in 2014 andgrew many folds. The CLA 45 AMG and GLA 45 AMG were able to add the young AMG aspirants to the brand. The ML 63 AMG and the GL 63 AMG consolidated Mercedes-Benz’s strong presence in the promising Performance SUV segment. Mercedes-Benz also expanded its AMG network as it inaugurated three new AMG Performance Centers in three days, at Delhi, Bangalore and Mumbai.

The launch of a new pre-owned cars business ‘Mercedes-Benz Certified’was another key milestone during the year and was marked by simultaneous inauguration of 12 new outlets across India. This creates further value for the customer and gives the aspirational luxury car customers an additional avenue to own a Mercedes-Benz. Developed specifically for the Indian market, this is most extensive Pre-Owned sales network with over 150+ display bays, which will be expanded to 250+ bays by 2015 end. ‘Mercedes-Benz Certified’ will be providing an attractive option for the consumer while adding incremental sales for the company, as substantiatedby the robust growth witnessed by the segment during the year.

In 2014 Mercedes-Benz India also inaugurated 14 new outlets, the highest ever in one single year. The ‘Excellence in Network’strategy translated into moving even closer to the customers and fascinating them with the renowned Mercedes-Benz brand experience.Providing a uniqueexperience of ‘Touch, Smell, Sound, Sight and Smell’to the customers and prospects across all Mercedes-Benz dealerships in Indiaaims at bringing in the feeling of exclusivity as well as an environment that spells of luxury.Mercedes-Benz India continues to boast of the densest network spread for any luxury car maker in India with 68 outlets in 37 cities.

The world class production facility spread over 100 acres, is among the fastest green-field operations ever to be created and is rated among the top most local manufacturing plants of Mercedes-Benz globally.During the year, the company celebrated roll-out of the 50,000th car manufactured in this facility.

The Three Pointed Star pursued the creation of a fascinating customer experience. Driven by passion and striving for achieving excellence, Mercedes-Benz's superlative Services programs created a satisfactory vehicle ownership experience bringing peace of mind for customers. In 2014, Mercedes-Benz India focused on extensive training to the dealership personnel to enhance customer satisfaction and delight. Qualified and experienced team of committed personnel were nurtured to take care of the sales and service requirements of the customersand making luxury car purchase and ownership a delightful experience.
(The Sales Volumes indicated in the figures above refer to ‘Retail’ sales figures. ‘Retail’ is a term that indicates the cars sold by dealers to Mercedes-Benz customers in India.)

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