New Delhi: Mercedes-Benz India will start local production of their ultra-luxury Mercedes-Maybach GLS. It is set to reduce the prices for Indian buyers
by a mile and underscore India’s growing importance in the global luxury car market. Localisation of the Maybach GLS enables Mercedes-Benz to reduce pricing from Rs 3.17 crore to Rs 2.75 crore.
India is now only the second market worldwide, following the USA, to manufacture the Maybach GLS locally.
Talking about this, Santosh Iyer, MD and CEO of Mercedes-Benz India, noted that the strong demand from Indian buyers prompted this move. He elaborated that the country was one of the top five markets for Mercedes-Maybach, and with this customer base, the localisation will benefit the customers.
Mercedes-Benz India’s sales mix has steadily shifted towards the luxury end of the market, with models priced above Rs 1.5 crore bringing around a quarter of the brand’s total volumes. The brand’s top-end vehicle segment recorded an 11 per cent growth last year, making it one of its strongest years so far in terms of revenue generation.
Mercedes Maybach GLS
Going forward, Mercedes-Benz is planning to adopt a dual-pronged approach for their flagship offerings. The automaker from Germany will locally assemble the Maybach GLS for quicker delivery timelines, while continuing to offer completely imported versions for customers who prefer bespoke specifications or better security features.
Even though the electric vehicle penetration remains relatively limited across the wider Indian market, Mercedes-Benz noted that demand for luxury EVs is building steadily. Electric models currently make up close to 20 per cent of the brand’s top-end vehicle sales in India. This was quite higher than the overall luxury market average of about 8-9 per cent.
Mercedes addressing the charging infrastructure
The brand noted that the public charging infrastructure was a big reason for the slower adaptation, especially with long-distance travel. To better on this point, Mercedes-Benz are bringing MB.Charge in the country is bringing more than 9,000 DC charging points to a single ecosystem.
Mercedes-Benz’s entry in the luxury segment suffered a decline in volumes as the brand opted not to offer heavy discounts. The overall luxury car market in India is growing at just 1-2 per cent, according to the brand, making disciplined pricing quite critical. This year, the brand plans to launch 12 new cars from ICE or electric and even new body types, with the big point being CLA, the entry point in the brand’s Mercedes-Benz EV portfolio.
