By IANS
Chandigarh : Buoyed by the success of its Mercedes-Benz luxury sedans in north India, German automobile maker Daimler-Chrysler Friday announced it would concentrate on the north Indian market, particularly in Punjab and Chandigarh.
Managing director and chief executive officer of Daimler-Chrysler Wilfried Aulbur told reporters here that the highest concentration of Mercedes cars in the country was in Punjab.
Aulbur said that the automobile giant was looking at the Indian market becoming even bigger than the market in Germany – the country of origin of Mercedes.
“India is going to be the largest future market for Mercedes and others in the automobile sector,” Aulbur pointed out as he unveiled the CL-class coupe – priced between Rs.11 million (Rs.1.1 crore) and Rs.15 million (Rs.1.5 crore) – here Friday.
“It is a very exciting moment for us to be here. Punjab is the most important market for us. Punjabis are enterprising and innovative people. Our experience here has shown that the DNA of Mercedes gels very well with the DNA of buyers of high-end cars,” Aulbur remarked.
Punjab’s Mercedes dealer Taipan Motors’ owner Manjit Singh Bala said that Punjab’s industrial hub Ludhiana had over 550 Mercedes cars while Chandigarh had over 300 of them. There were a few hundred Mercedes cars in other cities and towns of Punjab.
Giving figures of Mercedes sales in India, Aulbur said that 240 S-class and 670 E-class Mercedes had been sold in India till July-end this year. 480 C-class Mercedes – the cheapest one in the present range being sold in India – were also sold this year.
The CL-class car unveiled here is a completely imported two-door unit with latest features.
Director of marketing Sanjiv Sahajwala said that Mercedes was looking at higher sales in non-metro cities.
“Over the last few years, we are attracting younger customers in India. These are young entrepreneurs, IT professionals and successful businessmen. They are increasingly getting fascinated by the Mercedes brand,” Sahajwala said.