German luxury car company Mercedes-Benz launched an advanced diesel version of the E-Class in India last week. The E350 CDI is priced at Rs 48.08 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi) and comes with a 3 litre V6 diesel engine. It features a package of fuel-saving technologies, known as ‘Blue Efficiency Technology’, which helps save fuel by up to 13 per cent. Mercedes-Benz India MD and CEO, Mr Wilfried Aulbur, said that the company would continue to focus on its E-Class and M-Class products to maintain a healthy growth rate in the country.
He also said that though sales had picked up in October 2009, the overall sales figure for 2009 would not be able to match last year’s sales. The company sold a total of 3,625 units in India last year. In contrast, it sold 2,650 units till October this year, and is unlikely to cross last year’s sales figure. Notwithstanding the negative sales forecast, however, Aulbur felt confident that the luxury car market would soon recover.
