Mercedes-Benz India Planning to Launch New EVs in Coming Months, Expects EV Portfolio to Develop

Betting huge on the rising electrical car market in India, luxurious automotive maker Mercedes-Benz is anticipating its EV portfolio (current and future) to make up 25 p.c of its complete automotive gross sales within the subsequent three years, rising from the present ranges of three to 4 p.c. Mercedes-Benz on Thursday launched the GLC, its new petrol/diesel SUV, in Hyderabad.

Managing Director and CEO of Mercedes-Benz India Santosh Iyer stated the automaker is planning to launch three to 4 EVs within the coming 12 to 18 months in India.

“For India as well we feel that there would be a rapid adoption as and when new cars launch, and at this stage we are looking at three to four new EVs in the next 12 to 18 months time. So, slowly but surely we should increase penetration. And in the next three years we feel that 25 percent of our sales would be EVs in India as well,” Iyer instructed PTI.

According to him, it could be simpler for Mercedes-Benz automotive customers to undertake electrical autos as most of them have already got charging services at residence or workplace and will not rely upon public infrastructure.

He hoped that some states that are nonetheless levying street tax on EVs would give an exemption to the section.

He additional stated the German automotive maker’s plant unfold over 100 acres in Pune has the capability to provide 20,000 models yearly, which will be ramped as much as 40,000.

“Our current investments are close to Rs 2,700 crore in the plant. With GLC (car model launched recently) we have invested an additional Rs 100 crore. This capacity to make 20,000 cars in India (can) go up to 40,000… The first phase of 20,000, we should be seeing very soon. In the next two to three years, we should be reaching those numbers,” he stated.

On gross sales figures, Iyer stated the high-end vehicles maker offered over 8,500 vehicles in the course of the first half of the present 12 months and expects double-digit progress for the complete 12 months.

Iyer stated the brand new petrol/diesel SUV launched right now has already garnered over 1,500 bookings up to now throughout the nation, and there’s a ready interval of about 4 months for brand spanking new bookings.