Mercedes to bring hybrid, electric cars to India in 2018
Mercedes Benz India rolls out the locally assembled GLC SUV from its facility near Pune
Mumbai: Mercedes Benz India Pvt. Ltd, the local arm of the German car maker, will introduce models with alternative fuel in 2018, the year India is going to switch to stricter emission norms, Roland Folger, managing director and chief executive, said in an interview.
“Once Bharat VI is implemented—we hope it happens in 2018, we will be ready to bring models with alternative drive trains that we have in our portfolio," said Folger. This would include plug-in hybrids and full electric vehicles. Mercedes has a wide range of such models in its global portfolio.
On Thursday, the market leader in luxury car segment, which has been launching newer models to tap into India’s small but fast expanding segment rolled out the locally assembled GLC SUV from its facility near Pune. Launched in three variants with prices starting from 47.90 lakh up to 51.90 lakh (all prices ex-showroom Delhi), the GLC is the ninth model from Mercedes Benz to be assembled at company’s facility. The local assembly makes the models cheaper by 3 lakh to 5 lakh as compared to the fully imported ones.
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Folger expects the luxury car sales market in India to end the current year with similar volumes as last year. A total of 35,680 units were sold in India in 2015 against 33,818 units a year ago, according to I.H.S Markit, a market research firm.
Mercedes sold 13,558 units in India in 2015-16, 21% more than a year ago.
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