Mercedes mulls bringing compact car brand 'Smart' in India

Mercedes Benz is planning to induct its compact car brand “Smart” in the Indian car market. Mercedes probably will explore this front with its global partners Renault-Nissan. India is a budding small car market and Mercedes is eyeing to cash in from the segment of small cars. The Smart compact cars are likely to drive Mercedes sales and help the company recoup its numero uno position in India.Mercedes is currently developing the next gen Smart cars with Renault- Nissan, so naturally there is a possibility that the company might source the machinery and engine from the Renault-Nissan’s assembly facility in Chennai.

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Mercedes is looking towards Renault-Nissan alliance for the development of engine as the companies themselves wanted a compact engine. This alliance will help Mercedes to lower  down the cost and bring in economies of scale at both global and Indian car market. The German premium auto major, Mercedes will conduct a viability test over the launch of Smart Brand in India and if the outcome of the test is heartening, Mercedes may roll out the brand post-2014. Mercedes-Benz is going to roll out both the variants of the Smart brand: the four-door Smart Forfour and two-door Smart Fortwo.

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Mercedes officially has not forthrightly committed on the pricing of the car as it is too early to talk about it.  However as per the word on street the Smart-badged cars could be tagged anywhere in the range of Rs 12- Rs 15 lakh. In the global market the Smart cars are placed beneath the smallest premium A class cars. Mercedes is mulling to roll out 10 new models in the next five years, out of these 10 new cars, 3-5 will be compact car models. Alongside the models from the Smart brand Mercedes will roll out A and B class, along with a compact SUV.