If there’s any indication that the rich are getting richer in India, luxury automaker Mercedes-Benz clocked its best ever quarter growth in the last two years. The company, which launched its newest and most compact car in India, the A-Class, and followed up with an announcement that it secured 400 plus bookings within a few weeks of the launch, sold 1749 units in Q2 2013 (April-June 2012: 1327 units). The April-June 2013 sales demonstrate 32% year-on-year growth, the highest growth quarter for Mercedes-Benz India in the last 8 quarters. Success of the new A-Class, M-Class and GL-Class have contributed to this growth; E-Class and C-Class have clocked robust performance. Commenting on this impressive sales performance, Eberhard Kern, managing Director & CEO, Mercedes-Benz India said, “2013 is the Year of Offensive for MB in India. Our fully refreshed product line-up, with new segment introductions has received an overwhelming response from the customers. This has helped us achieve record results in Q2 2013. The B-Class CDI set for launch on 11-July 2013 is the next awaited launch from us and we have other fascinating product plans to follow the year through. Despite an overall challenging market conditions; the strength of brand Mercedes-Benz and the excitement of new product launches amongst customers, have enabled us to achieve successful results.”
In other news, group company and a wholly owned subsidiary of Daimler AG, Daimler Commercial Vehicles India, as part of its Daimler Trucks Asian Business Model, has announced the integration of R & D of Daimler India Commercial Vehicles Pvt. Ltd. (DICV) and Mitsubishi Fuso Truck & Bus Corporation (MFTBC) (a Daimler Company), Japan. Accordingly, Mr. Aydogan Cakmaz, who was until now Head – R & D at DICV, takes over as Head – R & D for Trucks Asia and will based at the MFTBC Headquarters at Kawasaki, Japan, effective 01 July 2013. He will oversee all R & D operations of Daimler Trucks for Asia. Mr. Hidekazo Kanno, who was Head – Product Lifecycle Management at MFTBC, Japan, takes over as Head – R & D for DICV, at Chennai, effective 01 July 2013. He will now report to Mr. Aydogan Cakmaz. In an other change not related to the Asian Business Model, Mr. Sanjiv Khurana, who was CFO at DICV completes his term at DICV and takes over as President – Remanufacturing Division, Daimler Trucks North America at Portland, Oregon, USA, effective 01 July 2013. Mr. Parthasarathy Thota, who was hitherto Head – Light/Medium-duty Trucks Project for BharatBenz at DICV, takes over as the CFO of DICV, effective 01 July 2013.
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