Mercedes-Benz rolls out new M-Class, to launch B-class this year, A-class in 2013

May 15, 2012: Luxury carmaker Mercedes-Benz plans to bring its B-class hatchback to India this year, which will be followed by the A-class hatchback and an SUV on the same platform. The German manufacturer has just launched its third-generation M-class SUV with AMG styling; it plans to bring 100 units initially with a price tag of around Rs 66 lakh. Without AMG styling, the ML version to be launched in June will flaunt a price tag of Rs 56.9 lakh.

Equipped with an active parking assist, Airmatic air suspension, 20-inches AMG body styling and alloy wheels, easy pack tailgate, leather interiors and mini spare wheel as part of its standard fitments, the new M-class introduces several concepts into the SUV segment for the first time. These include attention assist, eco start stop and reversing camera.

Peter Honegg, managing director and CEO of Mercedes-Benz India, says that it will serve as both an off-roader and on-roader and will come in a completely built unit form and will target Tier 2 and 3 cities as well. Once volumes of 800 to 1,000 are achieved, plans are to bring the new M-class in CKD form and assemble it in the company’s plant at Pune along with the B-and A-class cars. This follows the recent announcement in the Union Budget to hike customs duties on CBUs, a move that has spiralled import duties to 130 to 140 percent on CBUs. But Honegg clarifies that CKDS work out to be even more costly and the likely investment on expansion of capacity at its Pune plant could be anywhere around 1 to 2 million euros or even more.

Now in its third generation, the M-class has sold over 1,500 units in India so far, experiencing a strong growth of 30 percent in its segment last year. Honegg says that with its new product line-up, Mercedes-Benz will bounce back to its numero uno position in another three to four years as part of its game-changing strategy, after having lost out in the numbers game to competitors BMW and Audi.

SHOBHA MATHUR