C-class overtakes E-class in September, Merc sees ‘best ever’ Q3 sales

Mumbai, November 12, 2013: The quarter that ended in September 2013 was a special one for Mercedes-Benz India. Firstly, it sold 58 percent more vehicles during the quarter than the number of vehicles it sold during the July-September 2012 period. The company saw its ‘best-ever’ monthly sales of 1,011 units in September. Secondly, and more interestingly, its C-class saloon was the best-seller during the same period.

Usually, its E-class model leads sales even though it is more expensive than the C-class. “The C and E are the volume drivers. The E-class was very new in Q3, so there was an availability issue. But the C-class did extremely well. The C-class is continuously strong and has been in the market for 5-6 years now. But it is continuously getting upgraded, updated,” said Eberhard Kern, MD and CEO, Mercedes-Benz India at the launch of a limited edition C-class, Edition C today in Mumbai.

The car was launched to celebrate the 10 millionth C-class worldwide sales milestone. The company will make 500 units of the car that has been priced at Rs 39.16 lakh (ex-showroom, Mumbai), a Rs 5 lakh premium over the C220 CDI Avantgarde (diesel). The Edition C offers some cosmetic changes and features but no technical changes.

The C-class has found 18,500 buyers in the country since its launch. Mercedes-Benz India says it has not exhausted its list of new offerings for the current ‘Year of Offensive’ yet.

SUMANTRA BAROOAH

Photograph: Eberhard Kern, MD and CEO, Mercedes-Benz India, at the launch of the limited edition C-class, Edition C in Mumbai.