5% rise in Mercedes-Benz Q1 sales

E-Class has been the single largest contributor to sales volumes in the quarter with over 800 units sold

German luxury car maker Mercedes- Benz has reported 5.3 per cent increase at 2009 in retail sales in India in the first quarter of this year.

In corresponding period of 2012, Mercedes-Benz has sold 1908 units.  The E-Class has been the single largest contributor to the sales volumes in January – March 2013 period with more than 800 units sold registering 25 per cent growth over the corresponding period in 2012, company said in a statement.

In the AMG range, which includes the SLK-Class and the CLS-Class have registered 48 per cent increase over the corresponding period in 2012. SLK-class and the CLS-class are imported as completely-built units while C, E, S and ML (SUV) models at its Chakan plant in Pune.

"Given the overall strain in the Indian economy and the fact that the Passenger Vehicles market has de-grown by double digits in-Feb 2013, an incremental 5.3% performance enhancement is encouraging.

There are several exciting product launches slated in the next months and riding the wave of these fascinating products, we envisage a double-digit growth in the next quarter," said Eberhard Kern, Managing Director and CEO, Mercedes-Benz India.

The Chakan plant has an annual capacity of 20,000 units and it can be ramped up to 40,000 units.