 "Roland Folger, Managing Director & CEO, Mercedes-Benz India at the launch of the Mercedes-Benz S 400 in Hyderabad")
Dominating the Indian luxury car market, German luxury car maker Mercedes-Benz today reported its best ever sales in a fiscal in India at 13,558 units, up 20.91% from the previous year. For the January to March 2016 period, the company said it posted its best ever quarterly sales at 3,622 units, as against 3,566 units in the year-ago period, up 1.6%.
Also, the company had posted sales of 11,213 units in 2014-15, which was the previous best, Mercedes-Benz said in a statement.
Commenting on the sales achievements, Roland Folger, managing director and CEO, Mercedes-Benz India, said: “It is a significant achievement for us, as we have maintained our growth momentum in Q1 2016, despite facing multiple market challenges. We have been able to compensate the negative sales impact in the Delhi and NCR market, with a strong double digit growth achieved in most other markets across the country."
In the total sales portfolio, growth in the January-March 2016 quarter was led by the E-Class, which is celebrating 20 years in India, along with C-Class as a significant volume contributor. Its SUV portfolio comprising the GLA, GLE and the GL also grew in Q1 2016. Its new-generation cars remained steady contributors.
Company's de-growth in the Delhi-NCR market has been compensated by the strong demand from other regions in the country. The Q1 sales has gained momentum against the the backdrop of the diesel ban in the key Delhi and NCR market, successive price hikes and a lack of incentives for the automotive sector in the FY2016-17 Union Budget.
Folger added: "Our product drive across the spectrum, the tailor made finance programmes, the unique service initiatives have all been well appreciated, resulting in our historic sales success. Pursuing our ‘go to customer’ strategy we presented world-class retail facilities to our patrons in both new and existing markets. We also remained the luxury car brand with the most comprehensive retail network. This network drive enhanced our growth story even further with new customers opting for a Mercedes-Benz.”
Its rival Jaguar Land Rover India also posted sales growth of 45% for the January-March 2016 quarter, crossing 1,000 units. Its growth comes on the back of high demand for its recently launched new models such as the new small sedan Jaguar XE and the Discovery Sport.
