Mercedes-Benz on a roll in India, crosses 16,000 sales mark in FY2018

Mercedes-Benz India has announced record sales in FY2017-18 and Q1 2018. The country's leading luxury carmaker sold a record 16,236 units in the April-March 2017-18 period, an increase of 22.5 percent (FY2016-17: 13,259 units), maintaining its lead in the premium vehicle segment.

After ending 2017 with record sales, Mercedes Benz India has also registered its highest-ever sales for the fiscal as well as the first quarter of calendar year 2018. The company plans to launch 10 models in India during the year.

Sales in FY2018 were led by the long-wheelbase E-Class as well as the brand's SUV portfolio. The GLC was the top-selling SUV for the brand in the first quarter. 

In Q1 2018 (January-February), Mercedes-Benz India sold a record 4,556 units, an increase of 24.8 percent (Q1 2017: 3,650). The carmaker says the growth in its SUV portfolio is primarily driven by the GLC, while the GLE, GLE Coupe and the GLS also witnessed strong customer preference, along with the C-Class, E-Class and the S-Class.

The company says the record performance in Q1 2018 was primarily led by a spike in sales due to advancement in buying decisions impending to the expected increase in retail prices on the back of custom duty hike.

CAUTIOUSLY OPTIMISTIC ABOUT FY2019
The carmaker though remains cautiously optimistic about growth in FY2019. Roland Folger, managing director and CEO, Mercedes-Benz India, said: “2018 began with a positive note for the brand, though the spike in Q1 sales can be attributed to the advancement of sales due to the impending price correction, triggered primarily by the increase in basic customs duty. It might be a challenge to sustain this momentum in the coming quarters and we are cautiously optimistic. As the luxury industry volumes are comparatively low, the focus should remain on helping the industry grow by creating demand. A rise in demand would translate in increased production and thus, lead to significant revenue generation, and would support the ‘Make in India’ initiative.”

“We are extremely excited to witness the strong performance of our mainstay models, the C-, E-, S-Class and the SUVs. Particularly the success of the long wheelbase E-Class underlines the aptness of our decision to launch the car in India. We will continue with our product offensive and introduce a host of new products across segments and body shapes, to keep the consumer’s interest. Qualitative expansion in our network spread, coupled with service differentiation driven by our cost of ownership measures and availability of tailor made financial programmes, will continue to add value to our efforts of creating delightful customer experience,” added Folger.

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