2014 Mercedes-Benz S Class thrown its gate opens to the world months back, and it received good response in India too. After the launch, the three-pointed star logoed carmaker decided to manufacture new S-Class locally at its Chakan plant in Pune, which the locally manufactured model is being launched for Rs 1.36 lakh ex-showroom Mumbai.
However, the fully imported version was rolled out on our shores for 1.57 crore ex-showroom Delhi, which would cost around Rs 2 crore on-road in Mumbai. The brand was then reported to have received 125 orders of the same at the time of launch. Going with localization must be definitely benefitting the brand in a number of ways, which will also allow the dealership to capitalize on it, and sell it in more numbers than before due to lower price tag.
The S-Class that is of great demand in India is the top-of-line variant S 500.
Commenting at the launch, managing director and CEO, Mercedes-Benz India, said, “No other car stands for Mercedes-Benz brand promise more than the S-Class and we are delighted to manufacture the new S-Class at our state-of-the art production facility in Chakan, Pune. Quality has all along been the strength of Mercedes-Benz India, and the new S 500 production in India is set to take this success story even further.”
S-Class is the flagship of Mercedes, so adding one more assortment at the launch, MB rolled out an initiative called ‘the S-class chauffeur training program’ which is a 21 module course emphasized on training the chauffeur how to use all the features of S-Class. Hope so, all the S-Class buyers are definitely are going to apt this program for their chauffeurs.
Hence, the near future must definitely speak the volumes of locally built S-Class, otherwise the investment of Merc will fall flat on its head, and we knew how Indian standards are accepted in the world, so might not be a good chance for exporting it.