Quick 5 on Mercedes-Benz B-Class

After the unveiling of the B-Class, we had a quick five QnAs session with Mr Debashis Mitra, who throws some more light on this new product from the Mercedes-Benz spectrum. This is the first premium car that Mercedes-Benz will introduce in India and we drove the B-Class around India’s only F1 track.

1. Mr Mitra, with the B-Class coming into India, what could be the target pricing of the B-Class?

Ans . The pricing of the car will be somewhere close to Rs 25lakh. This is due to the fluctuating dollar-rupee price, and also due to the excessive global demand initially the product will be a CBU. We can share the correct price, only once it is launched.

2. Do you think this car and also the upcoming A-Class will get you the sales numbers?

Ans . No, we aren’t targeting any major numbers for this car. We are entering an all new segment, which will take sometime for the people to get accustomed to. Hence when the demand will come in, we will be ready to supply.

3. What sort of target audience can be expected for the B-Class?’

Ans . If you look at someone who is in their early 30s, working five days, a person who goes to play golf type. Somebody who can make dual use of their car, as work on weekdays and adventure on weekends.

4. It has been almost a year since the B-Class was unveiled in Frankfurt, what does Mercedes-Benz have to say about the global response that it has received so far?

Ans . The response has been fabulous. In the first six months of its commercial sale, we have produced 70,000 units so far and there are 30,000 bookings that are pending.

5. Mercedes-Benz is known for its first-in technology. So can we see anything new in the B-Class?

Ans . Definitely not. At Mercedes-Benz we do not believe in compromise. The car will come with seven airbags, gear shift on your fingers, seven-speed dual-clutch transmission and panoramic roof are few of them. The B-Class is 40% more fuel efficient than the other German premium SUVs. So, no compromise has been made. We believe that if a person come to buy a Mercedes-Benz, he has reached a new level in his life and we have no right to stripe him down.