Retail News CRM

Tag: mercedes benz

  • Mercedes-Benz India Launches New Digital Solutions For Its Customers

    Mercedes-Benz India Launches New Digital Solutions For Its Customers

    Mercedes-Benz announced the launch of two new customer-centric digital solutions in India. These new solutions from the carmaker are aimed to provide not only seamless ownership experience but also reinforcing confidence in the Indian luxury car market. The Digital Service Drive Next solution comprises of several key digital service initiatives that ensure safe and hassle-free ownership experience. On the other hand, ‘Pay at your convenience’ is a smart financial solution that offers financial assistance to the customers.

    The visit of the customers to the workshop will now be auto-detected. They will be welcomed with a personalized message at the service facility along with an intimation to the entire service staff about the customer. Vehicle Digital Reception System (vDRS) is a unique services program that allows customers to stay connected with their vehicle at the comfort of being at home. The customer receives a link of ‘Service Web Check-In Pass’, which gives access to information related to the service appointment, preference selection, real-time tracking, real-time service updates, access to invoices & documents, online bill payment and more.

    The newly introduced service bill finance solution will guarantee easy payment for the service requirements, which is available with credit cards of more than 13 banks. The customers will be benefitted with credit card EMI option for up to 12 months, zero-cost EMI option for 3 months, one swipe EMI easy payment option.

    This digital program also includes WhatsApp as the new communication channel for the customer. They will now get updates related to their next service due date, allotment of service consultant, service estimate and service status on their smartphone.

    Martin Schwenk, MD & CEO, Mercedes-Benz India, said, “Every element of our strategy revolves around the customer. At Mercedes-Benz, we are designing the digital future and are responding to changing customer expectations, and faster innovation cycles. Digitalization is driving customer experience. As a customer-centric brand, we believe in the integration of digital technology in our entire value chain, from design and development to production, and finally to sales and service. Towards this strategy, today we rolled-out key customer service initiatives under our digital program DSDNxt, the Vehicle Digital Reception System (vDRS), and WhatsApp for Business. These initiatives will ensure real-time service updates to our customers remotely, ensuring utmost convenience.”

    Lees ook:

    Lees ook:

  • Mercedes-Benz India Announces Its Line-Up For 2020 Auto Expo

    Mercedes-Benz India Announces Its Line-Up For 2020 Auto Expo

    Mercedes-Benz India has announced its line-up for the 2020 Auto Expo, for which the company has planned a range of products, services, and future technology. Among the product line-up at the pavilion, the Stuttgart-based carmaker will also have some of the upcoming models set to be launched in India this year. That includes the Mercedes-Benz A-Class Sedan, the AMG GT 63 S 4 door coupe, and the new-gen GLA, among other models. The company will also showcase its first electric SUV for India, the Mercedes-Benz EQC 400 4MATIC Edition 1886, which is slated to be launched in April 2020.

    The new A-Class sedan will be one of the key products to be introduced in India in 2020 and will mark the entry of the new-gen A-Class range in India. The Mercedes-AMG GT 63 S 4MATIC 4 door Coupe, on the other hand, is also an important product for India, and we were the first ones to drive it. In fact, the car is the world’s fastest series production four-seater and will rival the Porsche Panamera. The new-gen Mercedes-Benz GLA only makes its global debut in December 2019 and is also set to be launched later this year. The EQC 1886, on the other hand, is the forerunner of Mercedes-Benz’s new product brand ‘EQ’ for electric mobility globally.

    Talking about the company’s Martin Schwenk, Managing Director & CEO, Mercedes-Benz India commented, “As leaders in the luxury car industry, our investments at the Auto Expo firmly reiterate Mercedes-Benz’s confidence in the long-term prospect of the luxury car market and the bullishness of its customers; it also underlines our responsibility to drive the industry and provide a positive stimulus to the market. Inspired by our mantra of “Restless for Tomorrow”, the Mercedes-Benz pavilion will be a perfect embodiment of modern luxury, future technology, and progressiveness, all of which are synonymous with the Three-Pointed Star”.

    The Mercedes-Benz pavilion at the Auto Expo 2020 will also have sedans like the new E-Class, MB Certified C-Class, and something from Mercedes-Maybach on display. In addition to the GLA, the company will also showcase the new-gen GLE and GLS, along with a bunch of AMG models like – AMG G 63, AMG A 35 Sedan and AMG C 43 Coupe. Mercedes-Benz will also showcase its flying car concept, the Volocopter, at the auto show. The carmaker will also showcase a bunch of digital innovations like – an e-commerce marketplace for sale of MB cars, collections, MBUX interactive exhibition, what3words and more.

    Lees ook:

    Lees ook:

    Lees ook:

  • Mercedes-Benz India Delivers Over 200 Cars On Dussehra & Navratri

    Mercedes-Benz India Delivers Over 200 Cars On Dussehra & Navratri

    Mercedes-Benz India delivered a record 200+ cars to customers on the occasion of Dussehra and Navratri this festive season. The German automaker’s deliveries for the festive season surpassed those of last year with a concentrated customer base from Mumbai and the Gujarat state. The highest deliveries of over 125 vehicles were registered in Mumbai itself, while  74 car deliveries were registered in Gujarat, according to the carmaker. The customer profile comprised doctors, chartered accountants, lawyers and business professionals, said the company.

    Speaking on the occasion, Martin Schwenk, MD & CEO, Mercedes-Benz India said, “The overwhelming customer response resulting in deliveries of 200+ Stars in Mumbai and Gujarat and some other markets during Dussehra and Navratri, underlines the unmatched popularity of a Mercedes-Benz vehicle for the luxury car customers in these important markets. Today’s deliveries also signify that we have a similar level of excitement and fascination from customers, which we witnessed in 2018; and that is a positive development for us. Our customers are the reason behind our success in India and we thank them for their continued patronage and brand loyalty. We have introduced multiple customer-focused initiatives that will keep our customers excited with the product and service offerings associated with Mercedes-Benz.”

    Elaborating further, Mercedes-Benz India said that it was the C-Class and the E-Class that remained top choices for customers in Mumbai, followed by the GLC and the GLE SUVs. In Gujarat, the brand’s entry-level luxury offerings – CLA, GLA and the C-Class continue to be popular choices. The automaker has one of the densest networks in the Indian luxury vehicle space and operates out of 94 outlets spread in 47 cities. With its ‘Go to Customer’ strategy, Mercedes is pursuing a curated network expansion strategy with the objective of moving closer to the customers.

    The record deliveries also point towards recovering for Mercedes-Benz and a positive fourth quarter. Luxury carmakers too saw a dip in volumes, much like the ailing auto sector over the past months, and the festive season favored by the tax cuts is expected to bring a much-needed respite to automakers. Mainstream automakers too reported a month-to-month growth in September 2019, despite registering an overall decline in volumes.

  • Mercedes-Benz To Start Assembling Cars In Egypt

    Mercedes-Benz To Start Assembling Cars In Egypt

    Mercedes-Benz and the Egyptian government have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to locally assemble the company’s passenger cars in the country. This is the result of successful discussions with the Egyptian government. This planned commitment is set to further improve the market position of Mercedes-Benz Cars in Egypt. The Memorandum of Understanding not only describes a local Mercedes-Benz passenger car assembly, but also contains other potential fields of cooperation. The assembly will be set up by a local business partner. At the same time, Mercedes-Benz Cars emphasises the involvement and know-how of Egyptian suppliers.

    “In building up a local car assembly, we will be able to structure our production network even more flexibly and efficiently and respond even better to the needs of our customers,” says Jorg Burzer, Executive Board member Mercedes-Benz Cars, Production and Supply Chain.

    In view of the long-term market potential, further investments are also conceivable, for example expansion of the dealer network, a logistical hub in the Suez Canal Special Economic Zone and a training centre. Furthermore, the company has offered to make its specialist expertise with respect to modern mobility concepts, e-mobility and electric vehicles, as well as autonomous driving, available.

    With the planned car assembly operation in Egypt, Mercedes-Benz Cars is supporting Egypt as an industrial location. Already now, Mercedes-Benz is securing more than 1,000 direct and indirect jobs in Egypt with its own import and sales organisation, a central spare parts warehouse and numerous authorised retailers and workshops in Cairo, Gizeh, Alexandria and Hurghada. With the new car assembly operation, Mercedes-Benz Cars will create new employment and contribute to better training opportunities with the planned training centre.

    Lees ook:

    Lees ook:

    Lees ook:

  • Mercedes-Benz India Appoints Santosh Iyer As VP, Sales And Marketing

    Mercedes-Benz India Appoints Santosh Iyer As VP, Sales And Marketing

    Mercedes-Benz India announced that effective from July 1, 2019. Santosh Iyer, currently Vice President of Customer Service & Corporate Affairs will take over the position of Vice President, Sales & Marketing of Mercedes-Benz India. Santosh succeeds Michael Jopp who assumes the new responsibility of heading the Sales & Marketing function of Mercedes-Benz in Malaysia. Santosh Iyer has two decades of diverse experience in the Indian automobile domain spreading across sales, marketing, retail, customer service and corporate affairs. He has been associated with Mercedes-Benz India since 2009 and currently is responsible for the Customer Services, Corporate Affairs & CSR functions at Mercedes-Benz India.

    Announcing the organizational change, Martin Schwenk, Managing Director & CEO, Mercedes-Benz India commented, “Michael played an important role in leading the company’s Sales & Marketing functions and successfully managed critical market disruptions and headwinds over the last three years. He was instrumental in introducing new digital initiatives and his tenure saw Mercedes-Benz sustaining the number one market position and also topping the JD Power top ranking in Sales Satisfaction. We highly value his contribution for the growth of the brand in India. We are equally excited to welcome Santosh who has successfully headed multiple functions at Mercedes-Benz India, and played a key role in establishing the ‘service differentiation’ for the brand and driving customer centricity. We are confident that Santosh with his in-depth market understanding, rich industry experience and proven track record of driving excellence, will continue the growth momentum of the brand in this highly competitive and dynamic market. I thank both of them for their immense contribution to the brand and wish them the very best for their respective new roles.”

    Santosh played an important role in driving ‘service differentiator’ as the key parameter towards achieving service excellence and customer loyalty. Under Santosh’s stewardship, Mercedes-Benz India significantly increased its Customer satisfaction scores and topped the J.D. Power CSI rankings for two years in a row.

    Lees ook:

    Lees ook:

  • Next Generation Mercedes-Benz S-Class Interior Leaked

    Next Generation Mercedes-Benz S-Class Interior Leaked

    Mercedes-Benz is readying the next generation of its flagship S-Class sedan and while we’ve seen test mules in the past, a leaked image of the interior have now made its online. The next generation Mercedes-Benz S-Class due to make its debut sometime in 2020 and going by the leaked image, the car appears future ready. Confirmed by earlier spy shots, the W223 S-Class replaced the dual infotainment screen with single unit for the instrument console and a massive vertically-stacked display for all other controls. The Tesla like touchscreen system replaces a tonne of switches on dashboard that gets a clutter-free appearance with sleek looking air-con vents and a new steering wheel. The leaked image also reveals the dual-tone treatment to the cabin in pristine while and black shades.

    The new generation Mercedes-Benz S-Class will be based on the automaker’s MRA platform and will come with a range of six and eight cylinder petrol and diesel engines. There will also be an electrified version called – the EQ S – and will be based on the company’s new Modular Electric Architecture (MEA). The new electrified version is expected to sport a range of 500 km on a single charge, as the automaker’s new top-of-the-line electric saloon. Not to forget, there will be the Affalterbach versions too with the AMG-tuned S-Class drawing power from the 4.0-litre V8 bi-turbo motor that is likely to go hybrid.

    In addition, the new Mercedes-Benz S-Class is expected to be offered in only the long-wheelbase guise globally. That said, do expect the Pullman and Maybach versions to follow suit packing in tech and comfort over the current W222 S-Class. It needs to be seen if Mercedes will continue with the Coupe and Convertible versions on the next generation. With respect to new tech, expect improved autonomous driving capability possibly up to Level 3; a new and updated version of the Airmatic suspension and more segment-first creature comforts on the offering.

    In terms of design, the new S-Class is likely to get an evolutionary styling along lines of the new A-Class, CLS and the likes. The current version is one of the most gorgeous looking saloons out there, which really sets the benchmark for the new version. It is also likely to serve as the design inspiration for the next C-Class and E-Class models, when its time for their respective new life cycles.

    More details on the new S-Class will be available in the months to come. A global debut will happen next year while sales globally should commence by 2021 or 2022, depending on the market. The W222 S-Class is assembled in India, and given the sheer demand for the flagship Mercedes, expect the new model to be locally assembled as well.

  • 2020 Mercedes-Benz GLS Photos Leaked

    2020 Mercedes-Benz GLS Photos Leaked

    Official photographs of the new-generation Mercedes-Benz GLS SUV have been leaked ahead of its global debut at the 2019 New York Auto Show. The SUV will be manufactured at Mercedes’ plant in Alabama and will be launched in India sometime next year. As far as looks are concerned, the new GLS SUV sports a less aggressive design with fewer character lines. The front end still looks muscular with the creases on the bonnet and a new grille.

    The new GLS also comes with a set of new LED headlamps with integrated LED daytime running lamps. The bumper is also new and appears to come with large intakes on either end with an airdam and skid plate at the centre. What is also new is the fact that the new-gen SUV does not get the flared wheel arches from the outgoing model. While the silhouette remains more or less similar, the new-gen GLS gets cool looking slim LED tail-lamps, making for a classier look at the rear.

    From the sides, the SUV certainly looks bigger than ever with the additional claddings on the wheel arches, sportier alloy wheels and few other minor tweaks. Under the hood, the GLS is likely to get the same in-line six and V8 powertrains too which is seen in the S-Class including the GLS 600 which is likely to wear the ‘Maybach’ badge. Moreover, there will be also a 63 AMG version which will get a 4.0-litre, twin-turbo, V8 engine which is likely to belt out over 600 bhp.

    As far as interior is concerned, the overall design looks to be inspired by the GLE, with the same MBUX infotainment system, same steering wheel and the same design of the AC vents as well. We expect the GLS to be the true blue luxury barge as before and offer excellent comfort for third row passengers as well.

    Lees ook:

    Lees ook:

    Lees ook:

  • Mercedes back in No. 4 spot on E-class sales in Korea

    Mercedes back in No. 4 spot on E-class sales in Korea

    Mercedes-Benz outsold local carmakers in Korea to finish fourth in domestic sales in January, industry data showed Monday. The Korean unit of the German automaker sold 5,796 vehicles last month, equal to 4 percent of the total 114,632 vehicles. The sum places it fourth after Hyundai Motor (31.2 percent), Kia Motors (22.8 percent) and SsangYong Motor (6.1 percent).

    January sales for Mercedes-Benz Korea shrank 22.8 percent compared with the month before, but they were still higher than the monthly sales by Renault Samsung Motors (3.5 percent) and GM Korea (3.1 percent).

    The last time that the German brand reached No. 4 in monthly sales was back in April last year, a ranking that followed the closure of a local assembly plant by GM Korea two months earlier. Mercedes-Benz defended the ranking for three months before slipping to No. 6 in May last year.

    In yearly sales, Mercedes-Benz Korea sold 70,798 units for a market share of 4.5 percent last year, behind Renault Samsung (5.7 percent) and GM Korea (5.5 percent).

    Industry watchers attribute the sales increase to the success of the E-Class. January sales of the lineup were the 12th highest at 3,392 units, a number meaning that one E-Class vehicle was sold for every three Grandeur autos from Hyundai Motor purchased.

    The E-Class cars outsold Genesis, an independent brand launched by Hyundai that is pitted as its domestic rival, last year.

    The “diesel-gate” scandal that pounded German brands also helped promote the E-Class, which are mostly gasoline cars,

    “This year, BMW and Audi are scheduled to release new sedans, and a full-change Genesis G80 is also due soon,” one source noted. “This will likely affect the sales of the E-Class.”

  • Mercedes EV to launch in Korea

    Mercedes EV to launch in Korea

    Mercedes-Benz Korea is setting its sights on the local eco-friendly auto market with the introduction of an all-electric vehicle (EV) along with hybrid offerings this year. The Korean unit of the German brand announced Thursday that it will be introducing 14 new models to the local market this year including the EQC, the first model under its electric EQ brand, as well as four plug-in hybrid EVs at a New Year’s press conference at the Hotel Shilla in central Seoul.

    “2019 will be the year of the EQ,” said Dimitris Psillakis, CEO of Mercedes-Benz Korea. “We will do our utmost to provide the best products and services in the upcoming era of future mobility.”

    The premium electric SUV EQC, unveiled globally last September, is the German automaker’s current flagship EV. The promised hybrid models will range from SUVs to sedans, according to the automaker.

    Along with its entry into the local EV market, the German brand announced that it is also preparing its charging infrastructure.

    Mercedes-Benz Korea said EQC buyers will have access to its combined charging network, which will offer a wide range of charging stations nationwide. EQC drivers will also have access to a one-on-one concierge service that will recommend the nearest charging station to drivers.

    Mercedes-Benz Korea’s push into eco-friendly vehicles comes as it was embroiled in controversy last year regarding its vehicles’ emissions certifications.

    Last month, the automaker said it will appeal a court decision after it was found guilty of violating environmental and customs laws regarding the emissions certification process. The company was fined 2.81 billion won ($2.5 million) and an employee in charge of certifications was handed an eight-month sentence.

    Regarding the legal action, Psillakis promised that the company is following up on the newest regulations.

    “We have a very different changing and toughening regulatory environment around us,” said Psillakis. “We place processes to safeguard so that we can adapt to the new regulations as fast as possible.”

    The company also addressed concerns surrounding recall plans for its vehicles equipped with faulty Takata airbags, saying that it is planning a mass recall in the second quarter of this year of around 30,000 vehicles.

    The German automaker was the best-selling imported brand last year, selling 70,798 vehicles in the country.

    With last year’s sales, the Korean market is the fifth-largest market for the brand after China, the United States, Germany and Britain.

    Lees ook:

    Lees ook:

    Lees ook:

  • Imports of commercial vehicles fell last month in Korea

    Imports of commercial vehicles fell last month in Korea

    Sales of imported commercial vehicles plunged 38 percent last month from a year earlier amid slower economic growth, a local automobile association said Tuesday. The number of newly-registered imported commercial vehicles fell to 283 units in December from 390 a year ago, the Korea Automobile Importers and Distributors Association (KAIDA) said in a statement.

    “The construction industry faces a slowdown as the government pushes for regeneration projects in residential areas instead of building new apartments or homes. This is driving down demand for commercial vehicles,” a spokeswoman for Volvo Trucks Korea said.

    Imported commercial vehicles are widely viewed as being more upmarket than domestically produced rivals and offer more choices for users.

    For the whole of 2018, the number of imported commercial vehicles sold in Korea declined 1.6 percent to 4,394 units from 4,464 a year earlier, the statement said.

    Major imported commercial vehicle brands are MAN, Mercedes-Benz, Volvo Trucks, Scania and Iveco.

    There are three kinds of trucks. Two of them are regarded as commercial vehicles, but the third, referred to as a dump truck, is classified as construction equipment.

    KAIDA began to compile sales data for imported commercial vehicles in January 2017.

  • 2018 a record-breaking year for Mercedes Malaysia

    2018 a record-breaking year for Mercedes Malaysia

    Mercedes-Benz Malaysia (MBM), the distributor of Mercedes-Benz marque in Malaysia, posted a record-breaking performance in 2018 spurred by the consumption tax holiday and customer-centric strategy. President and CEO Dr Claus Weidner said vehicle sales grew 9% to 13,079 units from 12,045 units recorded in the previous year, lifting the company’s market share to 2.4% from 2.3%, previously.

    “Our efforts to invigorate the brand experience for our increasingly diverse fans have been fruitful and we are happy to retain our position as the number one premium brand in Malaysia,“ he said at the company’s briefing on the 2018 full-year performance and outlook for 2019.

    In June last year, the first month of the tax holiday period following the government’s move to abolish the goods and services tax, MBM posted the highest monthly sales in the company’s history at 1,750 units.

    Weidner said other areas of business also showed improvement with total vehicles serviced last year growing by 16% from the previous year to 148,800 units and in-house financing increasing by 23% year-on-year to RM2.7 billion.

    “Four out of every 10 cars sold were financed by our in-house financing,“ he said.

    Five out of every 10 cars sold, meanwhile, were insured by its in-house service.

    A total of 20 new and facelift models were launched last year to further complement the company’s extensive product line-up, he said.

    Going forward, Weidner said MBM was confident of surpassing last year’s performance driven by demand for compact and premium sport utility vehicles as well as the company’s holistic approach and customer-centric strategy.

    “We will also continue to rejuvenate our models portfolio to continue making it desirable to customers,“ he said.

    On the number of launches for this year, he said it would be around last year’s figure.

    Weidner disclosed that the company planned to restructure its plant in Pekan, Pahang to increase the localisation of components and upgrade the technology to improve efficiency and quality.

    However, he did not disclose the amount of investment for the plant restructuring.

    Lees ook:

    Lees ook:

  • Mercedes-Benz Vietnam to recall 4,802 SUVs over faulty seatbelts

    Mercedes-Benz Vietnam to recall 4,802 SUVs over faulty seatbelts

    Mercedes-Benz Vietnam is expected to issue a recall notice for 4,802 vehicles due to seatbelt faults in their rear seats. Company representatives said that an application for the recall has been submitted and they are waiting for approval from the Vietnam Register, the vehicle registration, inspection and quality control department of the Ministry of Transport.

    The models affected by this recall are the popular GLC 200, GLC 250 4MATIC, and GLC 300 4MATIC. These models were assembled at the Mercedes factory in HCMC between March 2016 and February 2018, and sold mainly to Vietnamese consumers.

    It is expected that owners of the faulty SUVs can have their vehicles checked and repaired free of charge at Mercedes Vietnam dealers nationwide from Jan 15, 2019 till the end of 2023.

    For the left and right rear seats, the seatbelt retracts so much that its locking clip can be stuck in a crevice in the inner car plating. If this happens, the clip cannot be retrieved and used again.

    Mercedes GLC is one of the models distributed in the Vietnamese market by the German luxury manufacturer.

    In 2017, GLC was the best-selling model for the company as well as the entire luxury car market, priced at VND1.68-2.9 billion ($72,032 – $124,032).

    Lees ook:

  • Benz shows new C-Class sedan and it’s diesel

    Benz shows new C-Class sedan and it’s diesel

    Mercedes-Benz Korea is still committed to diesel despite a global shift to eco-friendly engines, such as hybrid or electric units. The Korean section of the German premium carmaker premiered a partially revamped model of its flagship C-Class sedan in Incheon on Friday, equipped with a diesel engine.

    The C-Class sedan is one of Mercedes’ biggest models, having sold 9.5 million units worldwide since its introduction in 1982. Korea is the seventh largest market for the C-Class.

    Although not a fully revamped version, some 6,500 parts, including engine parts, have been upgraded, the company said.

    On Friday, Mercedes-Benz Korea showed a C 220d model with a four-cylinder OM 654 diesel engine, an interesting approach considering the industry’s shift to zero emissions.

    “This diesel engine’s CO2 emissions are 15 percent less than the petrol engine [with the same 2.0-liter capacity],” said Jochen Betsch, head of advanced engineering diesel at Daimler, who gave an extensive presentation on the upgraded diesel engine at a press event Friday in Incheon.

    Even while shedding 16 percent of its weight, the new engine added 24 horsepower to generate a maximum of 194 horsepower and torque of 40.8 kg.m.

    “It gets quite obvious that Daimler has strong commitment for diesel,” Betsch said.

    Dimitris Psillakis, CEO of Mercedes-Benz Korea, said a version with a gasoline engine will launch in the first half of next year, followed by a plug-in hybrid engine.

    “A diesel engine has its strong points with performance and even CO2 emissions,” Psillakis said. “It is important to offer all the options out there to our customers.”

    The press event Friday included an extensive presentation on the upgraded diesel engine, a move that many saw as a reference to rival BMW diesel models that experienced a spate of fires in Korea last summer. Psillakis, however, denied such speculation, saying the “customers have the right to know about the improved features of the new diesel engine.”

    The new C-Class’ official fuel efficiency wasn’t disclosed.

    Its price starts at 55.2 million won ($48.9 thousand).

  • German automakers gain ground in South Korea, outselling GM for first time

    German automakers gain ground in South Korea, outselling GM for first time

    Mercedes and BMW both sold more cars in South Korea than General Motors for the first time last month, helped by the growing popularity of German premium brands and as consumers shied away from GM after it announced a major restructuring.

    While home-grown automakers Hyundai Motor and Kia Motors Corp dominate the local market, high-end German vehicles have made inroads in recent years with more diverse offerings for brand-conscious consumers.

    BMW saw the biggest jump with February sales nearly doubling to 6,118 vehicles, industry data showed. That was just a tad behind Mercedes which led the imported car rankings with 6,192 cars, up 12 percent from the same period a year earlier.

    South Korea last year became the sixth biggest market for Mercedes, climbing from eighth place.

    GM’s announcement last month that it plans to shut down of one of its four factories in South Korea and was weighing the fate of the three other plants resulted in domestic retail sales nearly halving in February to 5,804.

    With consumers worried about loss of after-care services and residual value, GM lost its long-held spot as South Korea’s No. 3 automaker, slipping to sixth place.

    The U.S automaker, whose South Korean operations are primarily geared toward exports, is seeking financial aid from Seoul as well as concessions on wages and benefits from its local union to stay operating in the country.

    Talks with the labor union on Wednesday failed to produce concrete results although some 2,500 workers have applied for voluntary redundancy package.

    “We hope to wrap up talks with the labor union and the government swiftly,” a GM Korea spokesman said.

    “A drawn-out restructuring will hurt consumer trust,” he added.

    Lees ook:

  • Mercedes-Benz begins local assembly of CKD E-Class

    Mercedes-Benz begins local assembly of CKD E-Class

    Mercedes-Benz Distribution Indonesia (MDI), the local distribution arm of German car manufacturer Daimler AG, launched on Tuesday the fifth generation of its mid-size luxury sedan E-Class.

    The sedan is assembled from the completely knocked-down (CKD) version in its Wanaherang plant, following an earlier move to introduce the completely built-up (CBU) version last August.

    MDI president director Roelof Lamberts said the local production of the E-Class was expected to help boost sales of the model in Indonesia.

    “The E-Class contributed to a quarter of our sales last year. We hope with the new generation, this contribution can be increased to a third of total sales this year,” he said during the launch ceremony.

    MDI last year saw its sales rise slightly by 3 percent to 3,371 vehicles.

    The pricing of the new model will be listed at the upcoming auto show in April, Lamberts added.

    Currently, the CBU version of the E-Class is sold for Rp 1.3 billion (US$97,600) per vehicle.

    There are two types of CKD E-Class vehicles that will be introduced into the domestic market, namely the luxury E-250 Avantgarde and the sportier E-300.

    Lees ook: