Mercedes to have petrol variants across portfolio in India by September
New Delhi: German car maker Mercedes-Benz plans to have petrol versions of all its models sold in India by September as it looks to tide over the Supreme Court ban on over 2,000 cc diesel cars in Delhi/NCR.
The company, which today launched AMG 43 priced at Rs 77.5 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi), however remained hopeful that a solution would be found soon on the diesel ban in the region which traditionally has been the key market for the auto maker in India.
"We will be complete with petrol engines in September. Then we will have basically a petrol variant in each of our carlines available. It was a decision we made in the middle of last year," Mercedes-Benz India Managing Director and CEO Roland Folger told PTI.
Basically it gives customer a choice, he added. "Ten years ago roughly we had only petrol engines so it's not that unusual for us. It gives customer a choice it is not so much about new segment really," Folger said.
Mercedes-Benz along with Jaguar Land Rover are among the worst hit by the ban on 2,000 cc and above diesel cars in Delhi/NCR. When asked if their have been job losses at company's dealerships in Delhi/NCR, Folger said: "In the last six months the dealerships in the region have been supported by our other dealers with more petrol options. So there have been no job losses as such."
On AMG SLC 43, the company's 6th launch this year and tenth product under the AMG range in India, Folger said the new product will be a success story. "With the launch of AMG SLC 43 we continue to follow our top of pyramid approach and take pride in offering the widest range of performance vehicles," he added. The company has strategic focus on the AMG brand in India, Folger said. "We are excited to see our strategy bearing fruits.
Mercedes-Benz has remained the most popular name in performance circuit in India and our concerted efforts over the years have paid off in reaching out to the newer customers base for the brand," he added. The car, which comes with a toned down 3 litre V6 petrol engine, can accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in just 4.7 seconds.
