Mercedes Benz to launch B-Class sedan in December, followed by a compact SUV!

Mercedes-Benz India Private Limited is all set to launch their B-Class sedan in India around December 2012.

The company will launch the B Class sedan in December 2012 and a small SUV in 2014 for Indian market, Debashish Mitra director, sales & marketing, Mercedes Benz India was quoted as saying by the Business Standard.

The India-bound B-Class will have a front wheel drive layout. It is expected to be powered by the same 1.8-litre common rail diesel motor and a 1.6-litre direct injection turbo petrol motor that powers the present B Class sold in international market. The engines will likely be mated to 6-speed or 7-speed transmission.

The attractive A-Class Concept which Mercedes-Benz showcased at the Delhi Auto Expo last month too, may hit production and reach the market only by 2014. Amidst all this the company is confident that they will achieve double-digit growth in sales during 2012. The company recorded a 30 per cent growth in sales at 7,430 units in 2011.

Mitra stated that there are nearly 1, 50,000 millionaires in India but only 25 per cent of them buy luxury cars. So, Mercedes-Benz wants to expand the market by targeting these customers. Mercedes-Benz is also planning to expand its sales and service network. The company aims to add 15 sales/service centres to their network each year for the next four to five years. These sales/service centres will likely see the light of dawn in Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities.