New Merc E-Class launched in Hyd

DaimlerChrysler India launched its new generation Mercedes-Benz E-Class in Hyderabad on Thursday.

The new E-Class features about 2,000 parts that are new or further developments from its hugely popular predecessor, which had already sold over one million units globally since its introduction in 2002.

The new car comes in two design and equipment lines "� Classic and Elegance "� and is offered in petrol version E280, diesel E280CDI and E200 Kompressor,which features a modified engine management system and improved pistons that result in the increased output by 12.5 per cent.

The new versions come with a price tag of between Rs 36 lakh and Rs 43 lakh.

Addressing mediapersons here on Thursday, Sanjiv Sahajwala, director (sales and marketing), DaimlerChrysler India, said that the company had been receiving a fresh boost for the new car since its global introduction in June 2006.

"The company has already started delivering the new car from this month, and is hopeful of selling around 200 cars across the country in the next 45 to 50 days," he said.

Stating that the company was contemplating setting up a new assembly plant near Pune keeping in view the future growth, Sahajwala said the new plant would have more land than its existing 20-acre facility.

"We are currently scouting for locations in and around Pune for the plant," he said, adding that the assembling capacity of the new plant would be 2-3 times more than that of the existing ones. The company's existing plant at Pune currently has a capacity to assemble 4,000 units.

Speaking on the occasion, Yashwant Jhabakh, managing director of Adishwar Auto-Mahavir Motors, the exclusive distributor for Mercedes in Hyderabad, said they had sold close to 115 Mercedes in Andhra Pradesh and were targeting to sell 145 by this year end.

"Andhra Pradesh, particularly Hyderabad has been a rapidly growing market for Mercedes-Benz cars, and we are targeting to sell 160 cars including 60-65 new E-Class variants next year," he said.

Adishwar Auto contributes 7.5 per cent to the total sales of Mercedes-Benz in the country.