Articles by Aparna Deb,Business Desk,News18

Technology

Mercedes-Benz India Clocks Record Navratri Sales, 1 Car Sold Every 6 Minutes

Mercedes-Benz, India’s largest luxury carmaker, reported a record-breaking September, selling one new car every six minutes during the recently concluded Navratri period. With an average price tag of Rs 1 crore per vehicle, the surge marked the best-ever performance for the three-pointed star brand in India. The July–September quarter was the strongest yet for Mercedes-Benz India, with total sales of 5,119 units — slightly higher than the 5,117 units sold in the same quarter last year. Notably, over 2,500 cars, nearly half of the quarterly sales, were delivered in the final nine days of the quarter. Navratri Surge Boosts Sales Santosh Iyer, MD and CEO of Mercedes-Benz India, told Financial Express that demand picked up significantly between September 22 and September 30, when the company sold about 270 cars a day — roughly 10 to 12 cars every hour — at an average price of Rs 1 crore each. He added that the GST rate cut for luxury cars, which came into effect on September 22, coinciding with the first day of Navratri, helped revive customer sentiment at just the right time. This, combined with special offers rolled out during the quarter, supported the sales surge. Luxury Lineup Highlights Mercedes-Benz’s flagship all-electric G580 Edition One, priced at Rs 3.1 crore, has already sold out for the year, and bookings for the next batch are now open. To address subdued consumer sentiment earlier in the year, the company launched the ‘Dream Days’ campaign, offering flexible financial solutions. Iyer told Financial Express that one of the financing options allowed customers to pay low EMIs for 11 months and a higher EMI for just one month of the year, making it easier to own a Mercedes-Benz. Under the ‘Key-to-Key’ programme, Mercedes-Benz targeted its top-end customers. Those waiting for the upcoming S-Class, due next year, were encouraged to buy the current model with the assurance of an easy exchange for the new version upon launch. Outlook for Festive Season In the first six months of 2025, Mercedes-Benz India sold 9,357 units, reflecting a 4% year-on-year increase. The company expects strong Diwali season sales, backed by an order bank of nearly 2,000 units. Iyer said this healthy order pipeline gave the company confidence heading into Dhanteras and Diwali. In 2024, Mercedes-Benz registered 12% volume growth over the previous year, selling 19,565 units. For 2025, the company expects calendar-year growth to remain flat despite the festive boost.