Mercedes rolling out new models to take on BMW this year

Mercedes-Benz is facing tough competition from BMW and to compete with it, is planning to roll out three new cars into the Indian market. Mercedes has already launched 500L sedan and the GL class in the first week of January. The new launches will also include cars that the company plans to import to India as completely built units (CBUs). At the Auto Expo the company has displayed the E-coupe, the SLS AMG priced at Rs 2 crore, its concept car Concept Fascination, and a premium SUV S-Guard and it is expected that the upcoming launches could be from this product line.

In 2009 Mercedes has sold around 3250 in comparison with 3619 BMW cars sold. Suhas Kadlaskar, director, corporate affairs human resources, Mercedes-Benz India commented on this that the luxury car market was expected to grow at 15 per cent in 2010 and we were confident of securing double digit growth this year. The main reason of the decreased number is the phasing out of the E-Class sedan and the gap between introducing the upgraded variant. Mercedes has launched the new E 250 V6 with a price tag of Rs 41.94 lakh ex-showroom and the E 250CDI priced at