The market mood is looking good for the luxury car market leader in India: Mercedes-Benz. The Pune-based company has that it has sold off the current GLE three months ahead of plan, following "unprecedented customer demand from across India". It has now opened the bookings for the upcoming new-generation feature- and technology-laden GLE, which is scheduled to be launched before Auto Expo 2020.The GLE, of which nearly 13,000 units have been sold in India, remains one of the most important products for Mercedes-Benz in the country.

0-600 on Dhanteras
Mercedes-Benz India seems to be making the most of festive days in the country. After a record delivery of over 200 cars on Dussehra and Navratri in Mumbai and Gujarat, the carmaker and handed more than 250 cars to customers on Dhanteras, in Delhi-NCR alone.

With this and deliveries to customers in other key markets like Mumbai, Pune, Gujarat, Kolkata and Punjab, Mercedes-Benz India says it delivered a record 600-plus vehicles on October 25.

Martin Schwenk: "This impressive number of deliveries during the current festive season reiterates the increasing customer confidence and the trust on brand Mercedes-Benz  for a luxury car buyer, in a challenging market."

According to Martin Schwenk, MD and CEO, Mercedes-Benz India, “The festive season has been satisfactory for us and we are glad to see an overwhelming response to our products from across markets. We are excited to see the response to the current GLE, which sold out three months ahead of the plan. We have now opened the bookings for the new-generation GLE, scheduled to be launched before the Auto Expo 2020. We are confident that the new GLE which will be the most advanced GLE ever, will continue to redefine the luxury SUV space.” 

“We are also delighted to share the joy of our customers, who brought home a Star this festive season. This impressive number of deliveries during the current festive season reiterates the increasing customer confidence and the trust on brand Mercedes-Benz  for a luxury car buyer, in a challenging market. Customers are focal to all our strategies and we are happy to witness our custome- centric approach is bearing fruits and resulting in such overwhelming customer appreciation. WishBox is one such innovation, which is proving to be a game-changer, bringing about an unforeseen demand in the luxury segment, encouraging buyers to buy a Mercedes-Benz,” elaborated Schwenk

Vidur Talwar, MD, T&T Motors commented, ““We are thrilled with the overwhelming customer response during this festive period. Delhi-NCR is an important market for T&T Motors and the positive vibes for our models reassures the highest standards of customer satisfaction and over two decades of trust that we have earned in the market. This customer response makes us confident amidst tough market conditions and underlines the unparalleled brand loyalty that today’s luxury car buyer has for Mercedes-Benz.”

Tushar Kumar, MD and CEO, Silver Arrows said, “Silver Arrows is proud to partner with Mercedes-Benz and we are excited to witness this positive customer sentiment in the market,especially during the festive season. The upbeat customer response this festive season makes us confident of our products and brand offerings, which have been unrivalled in the luxury car market. Mercedes-Benz has a strong product portfolio and unparalleled brand and ownership experience, and that truly reflected in these record deliveries. We are hopeful that the positive sentiment would continue and we can see an uptick in demand.”

Looking to accelerate sales
Mercedes-Benz India, will be looking to accelerate sales in the remaining months of 2019 and beyond. The company has reported  a revival of growth and positive customer demand from Q3 2019 onwards.

For the first nine months of the calendar year 2019, the company has sold a total of 9,915 units, down 16 percent year on year. In CY2018, it had sold a record 15,538 units, posting YoY growth of 1.4 percent (2017: 15,330). Although it saw strong demand for its models in the first half of 2018, volumes came under pressure in the second half and weighed on overall growth.

Also read: Mercedes-Benz records double-digit growth globally with best-ever September and third quarter