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Time of India
14-06-2025
- Automotive
- Time of India
RBI rate relief to luxury car buyers but exchange rate concerns remain, says Mercedes-Benz India
KOLKATA: The recent RBI interest rate reduction provided much-needed relief to luxury car buyers. Some of the price hikes that carmakers were forced to implement in recent years were offset by the rate cut, which helped maintain relatively stable EMIs. Speaking to TOI on the occasion of the introduction of the brand's first hyper-personalisation in India on Thursday, Mercedes Benz India (MBI) Managing Director and CEO Santosh Iyer said Mercedes Benz Financial, the company's non-banking financial arm, passed on the benefits from the RBI repo rate cut to customers. This offered relief and helped maintain relatively stable EMIs despite rising vehicle prices. However, luxury carmakers, including MBI, continue to be concerned over the exchange rate. It is this adverse forex situation that forced Mercedes Benz to implement three price hikes this year. "The euro-rupee equation was particularly challenging, moving from Rs 85-88 to nearly Rs 98 to the euro," explained Iyer. The adverse exchange rate impacts both CKD parts, which comprise 91% of the vehicles sold, and CBUs that make up the rest. "Market sentiment remains mixed, with positive indicators including strong capital markets and healthy GDP growth. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Trading CFD dengan Teknologi dan Kecepatan Lebih Baik IC Markets Pelajari Undo Tax collections are high, and spending continues, but currency valuation impacts make vehicles more expensive," Iyer explained. The luxury car market has shown resilience, growing by 7-8% in certain segments. Electric vehicles have been a bright spot, with luxury EV penetration increasing from 7% to 11%. "Mercedes Benz has outpaced the luxury electric segment growth, recording a 73% increase compared to the industry's 66%," Iyer noted. The company's top-end segment continued to show strength, particularly with models like the G-Class, EQS SUV, and Maybach EQS SUV. Mercedes-Benz Research & Development India (MBRDI) Managing Director & CEO Manu Saale highlighted the facility's contribution to the company's evolution. "As the largest R&D centre for Mercedes outside Germany, we're integrating Indian expertise into global operations," says Saale. MBRDI played a key role in shaping the India-inspired Collector's Edition of the AMG G 63, which includes etching the owner's name on the grab handle. "MBRDI's current focus centres on two primary areas. The first is digital twin technology, where physical processes are digitised throughout the automotive development chain. This advancement accelerates development timelines whilst reducing costs. The second area involves customer-facing digital features, including infotainment systems, Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS), and electric vehicle charging solutions," added Saale. Follow more information on Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad here . Get real-time live updates on rescue operations and check full list of passengers onboard AI 171 .
Hindustan Times
13-06-2025
- Automotive
- Hindustan Times
Mercedes-AMG G 63 Collector's Edition, a unique, India-specific G-Wagon. Here's 5 things to know about it
The Mercedes G 63 Collector's Edition is available in two colourways, including a Mid Green Magno and Red Magno. Mercedes-Benz has introduced a new chapter in its bespoke luxury offerings with the launch of the Mercedes-AMG G 63 'Collector's Edition' in India. Tailored specifically for Indian buyers, this limited-run model,restricted to just 30 units nationwide, aims to combine performance engineering with locally-influenced personalisation. The edition was jointly developed with Mercedes-Benz Research and Development India (MBRDI), signalling a growing push toward India-specific high-end products. Here's a closer look at five notable aspects that define the uniqueness of this special edition G-Class: 4 Features The G 63 Collector's Edition benefits from Mercedes' latest MBUX NTG7 infotainment architecture, bringing with it more responsive displays, clearer graphics, and new features. The dual 12.3-inch displays offer touchscreen access to the system, which now supports wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. Features like Augmented Reality for Navigation add functional value, especially in dense urban traffic, where understanding complex junctions can be challenging. The interface also allows access to vehicle settings, off-road data, and drive mode configurations. Check out Upcoming Cars in India 2024, Best SUVs in India. First Published Date: 13 Jun 2025, 14:00 PM IST
The Hindu
12-06-2025
- Automotive
- The Hindu
Mercedes-Benz unveils AMG G 63 ‘Collector's Edition' priced at ₹4.3 crore
Mercedes-Benz has introduced the first-ever India-inspired Mercedes-AMG G 63 'Collector's Edition' of the luxury off-roader at an ex-showroom price of ₹4.3 crore. Only 30 units for AMG G 63 'Collector's Edition' will be available for customers. Deliveries are scheduled from the last quarter of 2025. 'This vehicle underscores the prowess of local innovation and value add addition by the teams at Mercedes-Benz India and Mercedes-Benz Research and Development India (MBRDI),' said Santosh Iyer, Managing Director and CEO, Mercedes-Benz India. 'This special vehicle not only celebrates the success and the culture-shaping effect of the AMG G 63 in India but also complements the spirit of collaboration and co-creation with our talent at MBRDI,' he said. 'We will continue to offer such rare vehicles listening to our customers' wishes and desires , as our top-end luxury products set new industry trends remaining the most desirable vehicles in the market' he added. 'We are proud to have played a key role in shaping this India-inspired Collector' s Edition of the AMG G 63. With this edition, we aimed to go beyond performance and create a vehicle that resonates with India' s unique identity,' said Manu Saale, Managing Director and CEO, MBRDI. 'Collaborating with Mercedes-Benz India, this is a strong testament of our capabilities in developing market-specific configurations that reflect customer-centricity and regional relevance. We remain committed to introducing more market-relevant solutions with both design and technology inputs,' he added.
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Business Standard
12-06-2025
- Automotive
- Business Standard
Mercedes-Benz sees surge in customisation; luxury EV sales up 66%
Mercedes-Benz India, which recently launched a collector's edition of the Mercedes-AMG G63 priced at ₹4.3 crore, says demand for customisation is rising in the top-end vehicle (TEV) segment, as buyers increasingly want their cars to stand out. Some customers are spending an additional ₹60 lakh to ₹1.5 crore on personalisation alone. Santosh Iyer, managing director and chief executive officer (CEO) of Mercedes-Benz India, said this trend is being driven by a small, exclusive community of TEV owners who seek to differentiate their cars within their social circles. Customisation options include bespoke colours, personalised engravings on grab handles, and edition-specific branding. Mercedes also offers personalisation kits priced around ₹10 lakh. The company believes the appetite for customisation is growing — and not just among younger buyers. For models like the G63, nearly 75 per cent of units sold are personalised. For others, such as the Maybach S-Class, the figure is around 60 per cent. Iyer also highlighted the strong performance of luxury electric vehicles (EVs) this year, with industry volumes rising 66 per cent to cross 2,000 units in the first five months of 2025. Mercedes-Benz India's own EV sales grew 73 per cent, with EVs now accounting for 11 per cent of the luxury segment. As for the AMG G63 collector's edition, just 30 units will be offered in India. Bookings opened on Thursday. The special edition was developed in collaboration with Mercedes-Benz Research & Development India (MBRDI). 'At MBRDI, we are proud to have played a key role in shaping this India-inspired collector's edition of the AMG G63. With this edition, we aimed to go beyond performance and create a vehicle that resonates with India's unique identity,' said Manu Saale, MD and CEO, MBRDI.
Time of India
12-06-2025
- Automotive
- Time of India
Mercedes-Benz India redefines luxury with hyper-personalisation & India-specific innovations
Mercedes-Benz India is betting on hyper-personalisation and electrification, with a focus on Indian technology, to enhance its appeal and drive growth in the country's burgeoning luxury car market , the company's top official said. The Germany-based luxury carmaker is offering a hyper-personalisation programme--the Manufacturer Program , including ' Manufaktur '--which allows buyers to customise their vehicles as per their preferences. 'Under this programme, 75 per cent of the customers who buy a car personalise it through the Manufacturer Program, for which they are willing to pay between ₹60 lakh to ₹1.5 crore,' Santosh Iyer , Managing Director and CEO, Mercedes-Benz India, told ETAuto . India's growing affluent customer base is giving rise to the trend of bespoke luxury vehicles. Beyond physical personalisation, digital features such as 'Routines'—an AI-driven car element based on customer habits—are reinforcing this shift. Following the same philosophy, the luxury carmaker today launched the Mercedes-AMG G 63 'Collector's Edition' at ₹4.3 crore. Only 30 units of the limited edition will be available exclusively to existing customers. Staying ahead with Indian technology This launch also marks the first Mercedes-Benz Research and Development India's (MBRDI)contribution to the Mercedes Benz limited edition model, underscoring the company's growing focus on local product development. MBRDI, headquartered in Bengaluru, is at the forefront of integrating advanced technologies such as AI and Gen AI in car manufacturing--from chip-to-cloud operating systems to customer-facing features. 'From the technical involvement across all aspects of engineering, we believe there's hardly any area of research untouched by Indian engineers today,' said Manu Saale, MD and CEO, MBRDI. With its growing engineering capabilities, India is playing a critical role in global automotive innovation that is expected to impact next-generation vehicles worldwide. Aligning with EVs With thegrowing adoption of electric vehicles in the country, the carmaker has kept pace with the trend. Mercedes-Benz India has reported a 73 per cent growth in luxury EV sales from January to May, outpacing the overall industry growth, said Iyer. This EV momentum is driven by top-end models such as the EQS SUV, EQE, and EQS Maybach. Currently, the company does not compete in the entry-level EV segment. 'The brand aims to maintain the DNA of performance (AMG) while offering the benefits of electrification (EQ), showcasing features like the 'G-Turn' in the electric G-Class,' the management added. On the growth front, the German manufacturer expects to report flat to single-digit growth in 2025, in line with earlier projections. This outlook is influenced by factors such as exchange rates, geopolitical concerns, and more.
