Daimler Chrysler expects flat Benz sales this year

Daimler Chrysler India is expecting flat sales this year for the luxury car, Mercedes Benz, in India against an annual sales growth of about 15 per cent posted in the last 4-5 years, said senior company officials.

The combined sale of S, E and C class cars stood at 1,815 in 2004. The list, however, does not include the completely built units (CBU) or imported cars in 2004, which contributes only to a small percentage of overall sales for the company.

"We are expecting flat sales this year. Natural disasters like the Mumbai floods, and overall stagnant demand for high end cars were major causes for flat sales," said a senior Daimler Chrysler India official.

Unlike a BMW, which only imports its cars in the form of CBU, Daimler Chrysler assembles its cars in India. The company has got a completely knocked down (CKD) plant near Pune where it assembles cars.

Daimler Chrysler India sold 84 S Class cars (S320 and S350), 816 E Class cars and 785 C Class cars in 2004. It has also sold 88 CBU or imported cars in 2004.

The company has 16 dealers and 17 authorised service stations in the country. Nevertheless, the company is gearing up for the launch of the upgraded and more contemporary version of its S Class car. The model will be available for public preview and booking in January.

"The model would be priced at a premium to the existing S Class models, which are priced in the range of Rs 60-95 lakh and would be delivered within a waiting period of 2-3 months," said the Daimler Chrysler official.

The model will be accompanied with hi-tech features like distronic and brake-assist plus. The car has got a radar, which senses and tells the owner if he is too close to the car ahead.

It has got autobraking and other highly advanced security features. It has headlamps having infrared technology that allows one to see virtually invisible objects in the night.