Mercedes to roll out costliest car

MBIL is targetting to sell around 100 units of the car in the 2000 calendar year. "The Indian plant is capable of producing any Mercedes Benz model. We will be importing the engine and transmission as kits to India for the S class car."

The S-320 L will be introduced with a high import content level, the spokesman said adding, ”we intend to take the local content up to 20 per cent by next year.”

The future volume strategy, he said, will be decided based on the market response for the initial launch. "This launch would give us the benefit of test marketing. Before deciding to introduce the S-class, we had received feedback from our existing customers and our existing customers feel a strong need for a much superior car and S-class fulfills that requirement to perfection." The company expects to achieve total sales of around 800 units in 2000 and gradually increase it in subsequent years.

Regarding reasons on having chosen to introduce the s-class inIndia, he said, ”to epitomise the harmony of top-class values, mercedes benz India is introducing the s class in India…It not only underlines the basic and traditional values of the mercedes benz such as safety, reliability, quality and comfort, but also takes on board trend values like driving pleasure, individuality and design.”

The s 320 L available the world over has a lot of accessories asoptional, but mbil is planning to provide them as standard equipment in the model being introduced in India.

The spokesman said the investments have been made in the vendorbase, dealer network as well as manufacturing capacity. ”as we have our basic infrastructure in place ever since we shifted to the new factory, the additional investment for s class is not very high.”