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Mercedes to launch many petrol variants by end of 2016
Posted on: 25/Aug/2016 4:53:11 PM
For all the models in cars by Mercedes Benz, a petrol variant will be launched in India by next month. This move is taken as there prevails uncertainty with diesel vehicles due to pollution concerns. On 25th August, today, the German luxury car maker unveiled the petrol variant of its SUV model in India, GLE 400. This is sold at Rs 74.90 lakh at an exclusive showroom in Delhi. Benz expects a 30 percent uptick in sales of petrol cars. This is at present 20 percent.
The Supreme Court had ordered a ban on diesel cars and SUVs having engine size of 2000 cc and Mercedes will absorb the same.
The launch of GLE 400, a petrol variant is one of our product strategies for strengthening our petrol portfolio in SUV. By September this year, we will be launching different other petrol variants which will give out a number of new options for our customers, said Roland Folger, the India Managing Director and CEO of Mercedes Benz. He added that his company has been observing a clear hike in its petrol portfolio, and stated that their recent launch, GLE 400 will account to it.
Mercedes has the diesel versus petrol portfolio as 80-20. With the launch of this new petrol variant, the petrol’s share is likely to turn into 30 percent, Folger added.
A bit more about GLE 400
The car gets powered by 2996 cc engine. It is launched as CBU. During later days of this year, localization will be done.
Folger, hinting about the diesel ban, stated that there is better clarity on this through interim. We hope that there will be growth again in this sector. We will not be passing on the 1 percent ECC to our customers, he pointed.
