Mercedes-Benz optimistic about growth this fiscal

Luxury car maker Mercedes-Benz is optimistic of maintaining growth in the Indian market during the 2009 fiscal and has introduced several models to beat the slowdown.

"We are optimistic that growth will continue, though it will not be 46 per cent as during the previous year," Suhas Kadlaskar, director (corporate affairs) Mercedes-Benz India, told reporters here.

The car maker had sold 3,625 units nationally in 2008 and sales had registered a 14 per cent growth during February 2008 to February 2009 and the company hopes to maintain the market leadership this year too, he said.

In Kerala, Mercedes-Benz has grown by 20-25 per cent. During this year, the growth may not be of the same level, but it will be progressive, he said.

To beat recession, Mercedez-Benz has introduced several innovative schemes by tieing up with banks, he said.

On plans to woo customers from smaller cities, he said in smaller cities also Mercedez was growing fast and a 20 per cent volume has been recorded from these cities. There are plans to open dealerships in Vishakapatnam and Vijaywada in Andhra Pradesh, he said.