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Mercedes-Benz India Ltd (MBIL) unveiled
the new C-class Mercedes at their plant
in Pune. Jurgen Ziegler, Managing Director
and Chief Executive Officer, and Rolf Loeffler,
Executive Director and head of technology,
unveiled the
C-class. 
The new C-class fills the wide gap that exists
between the luxurious E-class Mercedes and
other mid-sizers such as the Mitsubishi Lancer
and the Opel Astra Club. The C-class
will come with two engine options, the C-180 petrol
and the C-200 Common Rail Direct Injection diesel.
The C 180 will retail for Rs 19.9 lakhs in Mumbai
and Rs 22.8 lakhs for the diesel version, ex-showroom
Mumbai. Both will also be offered with manual
and automatic gearboxes.
When asked whether the E-class sales would be
affected, Ziegler said that as the C-class was
creating a new category in India, it would not
influence the E-class sales. For the first time,
AMG will be officially entering India. AMG, owned
by Mercedes-Benz, is a company that specialises
in
tuning all Mercedes vehicles and providing them
with specially designed aerodynamic kits and interior
trim options. The manufacturer will be importing
kits based on customer orders, which will be fitted
at MBIL dealer outlets. These customisation kits
will be on offer for the three Mercedes saloons
that are on sale in the country today, the C,
E, and the S-class.
Mercedes has been rapidly launching cars in new
segments in the country. The unveiling of the
face lifted E-class was done at Auto Expo in Delhi
last year, followed by the launch of the super
luxury S-class in September 2000, and now the
C-class. Mercedes also sells the MB 100D and MB
140D vans in the country. 
The C Class model will come in three colours
- steel, navy blue and red. The company plans
to sell around 800 cars in a year. MBIL has managed
to touch a sales figure of 100 per year in the
S-320 L segment that was launched in September
last year priced at
Rs 5.62 million in Mumbai and Rs 5.90 million
in Delhi.
The company has sold close to 600 units in the
E Class segment, the first model to roll out of
the Mercedes Benz factory in India. According
to Mr Ziegler, the new C Class is a technological
trailblazer in its segment and more than 20 innovations
from Mercedes-Benz flagship have been included
as standard equipment into it. These innovations
include adaptive airbags, window bags for driver
and front passenger, headlamp assist, multifunctional
steering and fibre optics.
While the "Classic" line is a
striking introductory model for the youthful with
a sensitive price positioning, the "Elegance"
line is intended to cater to more individualistic
and traditional Mercedes Benz customers.
MBIL, which was set up as a joint venture between
Daimler Chrysler and Tata Engineering,
will soon be converted into 100 per cent equity
of Daimler Chrysler as Tatas are planning to offload
their 14 per cent stake in it. The company, in
Mr Zeiglers words, is committed to the expansion
of the luxury car segment in the Indian automobile
market and has strongly focused on establishing
a sound infrastructure in India.
 Lauding
the government of India for its excellent policy
framework in the recent budget as well as Ex-Im
policy, Zeigler said, "For the first time
the budget gives clear roadmaps for tariffs and
taxes and the finance minister's announcement
to bring down the custom tariff to the Asian level
of 20 per cent and the introduction of uniform
VAT at 16 per cent within three years is an extremely
encouraging sign."
Address: Sector 15-A, Chikhali
Village, Pimpri, Pune - 411 018,
Phone: 747 0810
Text: Rahul Surkund
Photographs: Hari Krishna
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