While 2016 may not have been the most exciting year for Mercedes-Benz India compared to previous one, the automaker is still excited to introduce new products and in fact, the automaker promised at the very beginning of the year that it will launch 12 new/revised products into the Indian market. Speaking on the sidelines of the launch of its 'My Mercedes-My Service' campaign earlier this week, Roland Folger, Managing Director and CEO, Mercedes-Benz India told carandbike.com that the company is looking forward to introducing its hybrid and plug-in hybrid cars in the country, as long as the government can provide equally cleaner fuel quality along with BSVI norms.
"There is a market (for hybrid cars). But for us it only makes sense is to combine those new technologies on energy saving, fuel consumption savings together with proper standard also on emissions. So, as soon as we have Euro 6/BSVI vehicles available in the Indian market. It would also open the flood gates to new vehicle solutions that will further bring down the fuel consumption and also emissions."
Mercedes Benz India MD and CEO, Roland Folger at the 'My Mercedes-My Service' Launch
The statement was made in reference to Mercedes' slowdown in growth this year due to the unprecedented diesel car ban in Delhi, so the move to bring in hybrids or plug-in hybrids to counter it, sure sounds like a plan. In the luxury space, BMW is the only direct rival to the Stuttgart-based car maker in India with hybrid cars like the i8 that is priced at Rs. 2.14 crore (ex-showroom, Delhi) and is likely to bring the new generation 7-Series Plug-in Hybrid that was previously sold in the country.
Folger clarified that the current fuel quality available in the country does not make it viable to be used in highly advanced hybrid engines from Mercedes-Benz and the company would rather wait it out until 2018 or later when the BSVI norms come into effect. Explaining the issue, he said, "Once we have BSVI available, we would be able to introduce not only the normal hybrids, but also the plug-in hybrids towards the end of 2018. But it requires the better fuel, because it does not make any sense to use low quality fuel with these highly developed engines."
Mercedes-Benz GLC Plug-in Hybrid
The improved fuel quality can then make way for hybrid models to enter the Indian market that will help the car maker carve a niche while also reduce the overall carbon footprint. At present, the automaker's hybrid lineup comprises the C-Class, GLE, S-Class and the new generation GLC, while the B-Class comes with an all-electric powertrain.
After securing the number one position for two consecutive years in the Indian luxury market, the German auto giant has witnessed a sluggish growth this year largely due to the diesel car ban in the Delhi-NCR region, which constitutes for an important market on a pan India level. While the company hasn't seen volumes fall into negative, the growth momentum has certainly taken a hit during the past six months due to the ban levied by the Supreme Court.
Up until June 2016, Mercedes-Benz sold 6597 units in the country, a steady year-on-year growth when compared to the 6659 units sold during the first half of 2015. Over the past six months, the company's product launches have been on schedule with five products already gracing the market, while the sixth model - the SLC43 AMG is all set to be introduced on July 26.
