Rival German automakers Volkswagen and Mercedes-Benz are also struggling with falling sales in China amid a weak economy and intense competition
Demand in China, the world's biggest auto market, is suffering from a flagging economy, while foreign carmakers face stiff competition from local manufacturers offering cheaper models, especially EVs
Other German automakers are feeling the pain too, with Mercedes-Benz and BMW cutting their profit forecasts in recent weeks due to weak demand in China
Existing Mercedes cars equipped with the technology will be upgraded from a current 60 kph free of charge
Since then, there's been widespread anxiety over EVs, a phenomenon dubbed EV phobia by local media
Luxury carmakers Mercedes-Benz, Audi and BMW are eyeing robust sales during the festive period this year with demand for high-end cars continuing to see an upward trend in India. In an interaction with PTI, Mercedes-Benz India MD and CEO Santosh Iyer said the luxury car segment is set for its best-ever performance this year with festive season offtakes playing a major role in the overall performance. He noted that the festive season generally gives high double-digit sales growth, helping the automaker to average out single-digit growth of the earlier quarter. "So in that sense, on an average, then we are able to get a double-digit growth during the festive season," Iyer stated. Elaborating on the overall industry, which still remains a very small part of the overall passenger vehicle market in the country, he said the segment is headed for record volumes this fiscal year but not all players are witnessing growth. "Some (companies) are even degrowing, some are flat and they are fac
Luxury carmaker Mercedes-Benz India has pitched for a common platform to provide real-time information about all available charging stations operated by different service providers to make it more convenient for electric vehicle owners. Mercedes-Benz India MD and CEO Santosh Iyer pointed out that the common app would go a long way in enhancing customer convenience and help in pushing electric vehicle adoption in the country. In an interaction with PTI, Iyer noted that there is a need to democratise charging infrastructure for electric vehicles. "Today, if you buy an electric car, you need 3-4 different apps on your phone. What we are requesting the government is to come up with something like a UPI-based system," Iyer said. India is a leader in digital technology, but when it comes to charging, there are still multiple apps, he stated. "They (apps) don't talk to each other...payment gateways are not in sync..if it can be solved the convenience of EVs will be next level," Iyer ...
Mercedes-Benz Cars now expects its adjusted return on sales to be between 7.5 per cent and 8.5 per cent
Luxury car maker Mercedes-Benz India on Monday expanded its Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV) range in the country with the launch of the locally produced EQS 580 4MATIC. India is the first country outside the US to start the local production of the seven-seater electric SUV. EQS SUV 580 4MATIC is the second model, after the EQS sedan, to be locally produced at company's Pune-based manufacturing plant. "This will be our sixth EV in India, and the second car to be locally produced in India. We are also proud that India becomes the first market out of the US to locally manufacture the EQS," Mercedes-Benz India Managing Director and CEO Santosh Iyer told PTI in an interaction. The move to manufacture the product locally outlines the company's commitment to electrification and increasing product portfolio offering choices to customers, he added. "EQS SUV's localisation underpins our deep commitment to grow the Indian luxury electric car market and reinforce our commitment for a greener a
Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) on Saturday alleged non-compliance with environmental standards by the luxury car maker Mercedes-Benz India at its Pune manufacturing facility and sought a comprehensive review of the plant's operations. Mercedes-Benz India, in a statement, said it has not received any "written notice" or formal request from MPCB describing the claimed violations and was ready to take any "corrective action" if required. MPCB, in a release, said it came across the alleged violations of the guidelines during an inspection of the facility on Friday. "During a routine inspection conducted on August 23, 2024, it was discovered that the Mercedes Benz assembly plant in Chakan, Pune, is not adhering to the pollution control guidelines set by the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB)," the board said in the release. The board has instructed its regional officer to take immediate action to ensure that the Mercedes Benz assembly plant complies with all MPCB ...
At a meeting Tuesday, the government said it planned to advise all EV makers to voluntarily disclose the names of battery suppliers
German luxury carmaker Mercedes-Benz on Thursday sounded confident of posting a double-digit growth this calendar year and said it is expecting the demand to remain good in the coming festive season on the lines of last year. Speaking with PTI at the launch of two new top-end car models, Mercedes-Benz India Managing Director and CEO Santosh Iyer said that the company is seeing growth in its electric vehicle portfolio also and it will come out with the electric version of Maybach in September this year. With the unveiling of the Mercedes-AMG GLC 43 4MATIC Coup and CLE 300 Cabriolet AMG Line, priced at Rs 1.105 crore and Rs 1.10 crore, respectively, the company has strengthened its top-end product range further. "We grew 9 per cent in the first half of 2024. Of course, quarter two is low seasonality and this year it was even low considering elections. But when we look at the third quarter it is again showing a good amount of bookings. The market is there. We are confident of a ...
Automakers in South Korea currently need to disclose certain information about vehicles, including size and fuel efficiency
The company said it now expected an adjusted return on sales in the range of 10-11 per cent this year, down from its previous target range of 10-12 per cent
German luxury carmaker Mercedes-Benz is considering assembling more electric vehicles at its plant in India not merely to gain cost advantage but also to meet its zero emission mobility and carbon neutral setup goals, according to a senior company official. Mercedes-Benz India, which currently assembles its flagship electric luxury sedan EQS at its Chakan unit, is considering localisation of other models depending on demand. "Our final goal is zero emission mobility and carbon neutral setup, which not only means about tailpipe emissions, but also from the recyclability of the car, to the carbon footprint that we generate by producing these cars," Mercedes-Benz India Managing Director & CEO Santosh Iyer told PTI. He further said,"We have to look at this holistically and therefore producing EVs was the logical step and we will continue in that direction as the market demand changes." Iyer was replying to a query over Mercedes-Benz India's long-term plans for local assembly of EVs in
The Supreme Court has provided relief to two companies that had faced problems with luxury cars purchased from Mercedes-Benz
The company launched the EQA 250+ on Monday, priced at Rs 66 lakh, which comes with a range of 497-560 km per charge
German luxury carmaker Mercedes-Benz on Monday reported a 9 per cent growth in sales at 9,262 units in India in the first half of 2024, its highest ever half-yearly sales in the country, riding on strong demand across categories and availability of volume models. The company had posted sales of 8,528 units in the January-June period of 2023, which was its previous highest half-yearly sales, Mercedes-Benz India said in a statement. It plans to launch six new products in the second half (H2) of 2024. SUV penetration was at 55 per cent in H1 2024, while the TEV (top-end vehicle) segment priced above Rs 1.5 crore comprised 25 per cent of total sales, it added. The SUV segment saw robust performance from the GLA, GLC, GLE and GLS models, while the sedan portfolio comprising the A-Class, C-Class, outgoing LWB E-Class and S-Class topped customer preference for luxury sedans, it added. The BEV (battery electric vehicle) portfolio grew by 60 per cent in H1 24, comprising 5 per cent of tota
Currently, all electric vehicles (EVs) benefit from a concessional GST rate of five per cent, while vehicles running on internal combustion engines (ICE) are charged a 28 per cent GST
Last year, Binghatti broke ground on a tie-up with Bugatti Automobiles SAS on a project that will include elevators to transport cars to penthouses