Mercedes-Benz optimistic on consistent double-digit growth in China

Mercedes-Benz is aggressively pushing its SUVs in the China market and is using the Shanghai Motor Show as a platform to showcase its product strengths. With the close-to-production GLC Coupé concept, it is providing a glimpse of forthcoming new models for the booming global off-road segment. The German carmaker is also having market premiere of the new GLE and GLE Coupé in China.

Mercedes-Benz is seeing continued dynamic growth in China and after another record year in 2014, with a sales increase of 28 percent, it is expanding both its model range and its local production in the Middle Kingdom. At the Beijing plant, the GLA compact SUV is now the fourth Mercedes-Benz model to roll off the production line. The presence of Daimler in China will soon also be reinforced by the new smart fortwo, which is also celebrating its market premiere in Shanghai.

“We have good reason to pay close attention to SUVs. They are fascinating automobiles in a growing segment. We are expecting double-digit growth rates in China over the next few years,” says Dr. Dieter Zetsche, chairman of the Board of Management of Daimler AG and head of Mercedes-Benz Cars, speaking at Auto Shanghai. “The GLE Coupé shows just how convinced we are by the success of this vehicle concept, which is why we will bring further models to market that combine the look of a coupé with the versatility and off-road capabilities of a Mercedes SUV. The GLC Coupé concept provides a very clear indication of how they might look.”

The company says the show car combines coupé styling elements with the purity of the design language applied to forthcoming generations of Mercedes-Benz SUVs, enriched with characteristic details, including the twin blade radiator grille, a bonnet with power domes and a four-pipe exhaust system. The SUV is powered by a V6 biturbo with 270 kW (367bhp) and 520 Nm. Power is transmitted by the 9G-TRONIC 9-speed automatic and 4MATIC permanent all-wheel drive.

“We will build a production version of the GLC Coupé concept,” says Ola Källenius, Member of the Board of Management of Daimler AG responsible for marketing and sales of Mercedes-Benz Cars. “That means we will have seven models on offer here in future, with the spectrum ranging from the compact GLA all the way to the G-Class, the founding father of the Mercedes-Benz SUV family.”

Gunning for double-digit growth

“Great products – produced locally. That’s our recipe for the long-term success of Mercedes-Benz in China,” says Hubertus Troska, Member of the Board of Management of Daimler AG, Greater China. Troska adds, “China has our full attention, and this is paying dividends. 2014 was another record year for Mercedes-Benz, with an increase in sales of 28 percent and more than 270,000 units sold. We are planning further double-digit growth in China for 2015 and well in excess of 300,000 cars sold.”

Among the new models for China, the world’s largest car market, is the new S 500 e with innovative plug-in hybrid technology, delivering fuel consumption of just 2.8 litres per 100 kilometres and 67 grams of CO₂. The S 500 e therefore already undercuts the exhaust standards applicable in China as of 2020 by around 45 percent. The new C 200 4MATIC also marks the first C-Class model with all-wheel drive to come to China.