Mercedes-Benz launches BS-VI compliant E-Class, price begins from Rs 57.5 lakh

German luxury carmaker Mercedes-Benz on Monday launched the BS-VI compliant Long Wheelbase E-Class sedan in India priced between Rs 57.5 lakh and Rs 62.5 lakh. The New Long Wheelbase E-Class features two BS-VI compliant petrol and diesel engines along with a host of new interior features, Mercedes-Benz India said.

The petrol version is powered by a 1,991-cc engine delivering 197 horsepower (HP) and comes in two variants priced at Rs 57.5 lakh and Rs 61.5 lakh, respectively. On the other hand, the diesel version has a 1,950-cc engine delivering 194HP and comes in two options priced at Rs 58.5 lakh and Rs 62.5 lakh, respectively (all prices ex-showroom).

Mercedes-Benz India MD and CEO Martin Schwenk said the company had rolled out India’s first ‘Made in India, for India’ BS-VI vehicle in January 2018. “Since then, we have been steadily transitioning our portfolio into BS-VI and the introduction of the BS-VI long-wheelbase E-Class reiterates our commitment towards the new emission norms from April 2020,” he added.

The new car has safety features including seven airbags, parking pilot with active parking assist and adaptive brake lights. It also has wireless charging for mobile phones in the rear, and the rear passengers will have touchscreen to control media, climate and vehicle functionalities. Schwenk said the E-Class has sold over 41,000 units in India in over two decades and the Long Wheelbase E-Class has carved a niche of its own in the segment.

German giant Mercedes-Benz recently decided to stop selling traditional combustion engine cars by 2039 and plans for its new vehicles sold worldwide by that time to be carbon neutral. "We aim to have a carbon-neutral new passenger car fleet in 20 years," said Ola Kallenius, current head of Mercedes research, who is to succeed Dieter Zetsche as chairman of the Daimler group next week.

German luxury carmaker Mercedes-Benz has witnessed a dip in the number of units sold between January and March - the first quarter of the year. The sale is down 14.72 per cent in comparison to the same period last year. The company, which had retailed 4,556 units in the January-March period of 2018, has sold 3,885 units in the same period this year.

Speaking to media, Mercedes-Benz India Managing Director and CEO Martin Schwenk said, "We are satisfied with our sustained sales performance despite facing strong macro-economic headwinds". As a fundamentally strong brand, the company remains bullish on the mid to long term prospect of the dynamic Indian market, which it believes has immense potential to grow, Schwenk added.

Despite the current tough market conditions, Mercedes-Benz India, which sold 15,538 units in 2018, is hopeful that it would be able to sell more this year. The company claimed sales in India are currently muted but is expected to grow in the second half of 2019 after the General Elections in the country.

(With inputs from PTI)