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Mercedes to bring in all its models via CBU route

BS Corporate Bureau

DaimlerChrysler India Pvt Ltd, the manufacturers of Mercedes-Benz passenger cars, today said it plans to sell around 800 units of C-class variants during the current financial year, representing an increase of 200 units when compared with last year's sales. The company also said it plans to bring all the Mercedes-Benz models in India through the completely built unit route.

Antonio Faria, general manager (after sales), DaimlerChrysler told mediapersons that sales during the current fiscal was expected to increase by 15 to 25 per cent, adding sales included around 100 to 150 units of completely built units. During the year ended March 2002, the company sold around 1,400 units.

He also disclosed that DaimlerChrysler was planning to make available all the models under its brand to the Indian market through the CBU route. At present, the SLK, CLK variants and M-class model of Mercedes-Benz are brought through the CBU route. "The homologation process here is expensive and time consuming and the validity is only for six months. We hope the government looks into this issue", he said.

The company, in a press statement, stated that it was exploring the feasibility of setting up additional Mercedes-Benz authorized service centers in the four southern states - Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu to meet the objectives of its network strategy and further strengthen its dealer network.

Faria said that the four southern states contributed around 30 per cent to 35 per cent of their total sales during last fiscal, adding that in Tamil Nadu alone, they sold 130 units. "We expect the southern market to register a 15 to 25 per cent growth this fiscal," he said.

Meanwhile, the company today announced the appointment of Sundaram Motors as its second Mercedes-Benz as its second dealer for the state of Tamil Nadu. TransCar India Pvt Ltd, the first dealer for the state, still continues to serve the Tamil Nadu market. At present, DaimlerChrysler has 15 dealer and 17 workshops across the country and it plans to expand the network, if the sale increases by more than 15 per cent during this fiscal.

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