‘As now we have a protracted wait, clients will be capable of see the automobiles that can be produced and blocked over the subsequent yr (ebook) to them.’
“So if there is a marriage ceremony or birthday in October, they’ll examine and block availability for that month.”
IMAGE: Mercedes-AMG E 53 4MATIC+ Cabriolet. All pictures: Courtesy of Mercedes-Benz India/Fb
Mercedes-Benz India says it should launch 10 automobile fashions in 2023, most of which can be within the high-end class, mentioned Santosh Iyer, basic supervisor and chief government officer.
The German automaker recorded its highest gross sales in India with 15,822 items in 2022, registering 41 % progress over 2021.
“Digging somewhat deeper into 2022 volumes, the quickest progress got here from high-end automobiles (Dearer than 1 crore / Rs 10 million) and so they confirmed 69 % progress,” says Iyer. Enterprise Customary.
The corporate launched its first high-end automobile of this yr final week: Convertible AMG E53 Cabriolet 4MATIC+, priced at Rs 1.30/Rs 13 million (showroom) and might speed up to 100 km/h in 4.5 seconds.
Iyer says 22 % of the corporate’s gross sales come from these high-end automobiles.
In 2018, earlier than the Covid pandemic, the share of such automobiles in Mercedes-Benz India’s gross sales was 12 %.
“So, once more, it is an excellent combine, which reveals {that a} true luxurious shopper prefers Mercedes-Benz to belongings from different manufacturers,” Iyer says.
In 2023, we’ll launch 10 new merchandise. Most of them can be within the high-end automobile phase,” he mentioned.
Iyer didn’t make clear what number of of those 10 merchandise can be electrical automobiles. He mentioned the corporate goals to generate about 33 % of its complete unit gross sales from these high-end automobiles within the subsequent 2-3 years.
Iyer says Mercedes-Benz has had its finest gross sales ever within the final 28 years of its presence in India.
Regardless of headwinds for the automaker by way of provide shortages, Iyer mentioned the corporate not solely sells a lot of automobiles, but additionally has an enormous order ebook of almost 6,000 items, resulting in as much as 9 months of ready time.
He acknowledged that with this measurement of the order ebook, the corporate is taking a look at double-digit progress in 2023.
Iyer mentioned the corporate obtained almost 2,000 on-line orders for its automobiles in 2022.
Earlier than COVID-19, the corporate was promoting round 1,000 automobiles a yr by way of its on-line retailer.
Iyer says Mercedes-Benz will enhance the shopper journey within the on-line area. Up to now, clients have been capable of see the automobiles that can be produced within the subsequent three months.
“Since now we have a protracted ready interval, they (clients) can be produced over the subsequent yr and the block (ebook) to them. So if there is a marriage ceremony or birthday in October, they’ll examine and block availability for that month,” explains Iyer.
The corporate can be attempting to extend its used automobile enterprise by way of its on-line retailer.
Mercedes-Benz India sells 3,000-4,000 used automobiles per yr. “We noticed 20 % progress within the used automobile enterprise final yr,” Iyer says.
“So we’re attempting to simplify the journey. So, a buyer can log in on-line and supply particulars of their present used automobile and instantly get the indicative value of the automobile. Then they’ll select a franchise companion and so they can then determine whether or not to commerce with the companion,” he provides. eats.
For this goal, Mercedes-Benz India additionally comes with a man-made intelligence-supported analysis software.
Iyer states that there are greater than 170,000 Mercedes-Benz automobiles parked in India, so the corporate expects double-digit progress in its enterprise.
The corporate launched its first EV, the EQC, in India about two years in the past, however the epidemic broke out.
“So when (electrical energy) automobiles have been there, we had COVID-19. Then we bought the automobiles after which there was an enormous ready interval and (electrical energy) automobile,” he says.
Two different electrical automobiles – EQS and EQB – have been launched between October and December final yr. Each automobiles have a ready interval of three to 4 months. “So our estimate is that EV gross sales can be about 25 % of our complete gross sales in three years,” Iyer says.
Mercedes-Benz is the market chief within the Indian luxurious automobile market with a share of roughly 44 %. Roughly 38,000 items have been bought within the luxurious automobile phase in India.
Iyer says the corporate is targeted on sustainability and that about 30 % of its sellers and franchise companions will use solely inexperienced vitality by the tip of this yr.
By the tip of 2025, all sellers and companions can be utilizing inexperienced vitality.
Function Rollout: Rajesh Alva/rediff.com
