Mercedes-Benz to launch new products in 2010

Luxury car maker Mercedes-Benz on Monday said it would launch up to seven new models, including some variants of its existing products, this year.

Incidentally, the company is launching the new cars at a time when it is engaged in a tough fight with rival German firm BMW for the top slot in the segment.

“We have a plan to launch a total of 10-12 products this year. Of them, we have already launched five since January and the rest will follow during the course of the year,” Mercedes- Benz Board of Management India Member Suhas Kadlaskar told reporters in New Delhi.

He said the new products will include some variants of its existing E-Class sedans.

“We know the luxury car market is poised for huge growth in the country and we want to bring in the new cars to tap this,” Kadlaskar said.

Since January, Mercedes-Benz has launched five products, including luxury limousine S-Guard, which will come at a price of around Rs 6 crore. It had also launched its limousine S-500 L, the sports utility vehicle GL 350, and the sedans E-250 CDI and E-220 I.

The Stuttgart-headquartered company was dislodged from its long-held position of the numero uno luxury car brand in India in 2009 by its compatriot BMW.

However, according to Society of the Indian Automobile Manufacturers in January this year, Mercedes-Benz sold 403 units in the country, surpassing the figure of BMW’s 341 units.