Mercedes-Benz India upbeat about its new E-Class

Chennai: Luxury carmaker Mercedes-Benz India is upbeat aboout its newly launched E-Class long wheel base model as the number of bookings has touched 500 within a week of the launch of the new vehicle, said a senior official.

Speaking to reporters here after launching the long wheel base right-hand drive E-Class, Michael Jopp, Vice-President, Sales and Marketing, said: "The number of bookings for the new model has touched 500 units and 30 per cent of these is from five southern states."

The company launched the India-specific designed and manufactured model around a week back.

The company has launched two variants under the E-class long wheel base priced at Rs 57.71 lakh (E 200 model) and Rs 71.40 lakh (E 350 d).

According to Jopp, the company hopes to log 10 per cent sales growth in 2017 over 2016 numbers.

Jopp said there is no need for any celebrity brand ambassador for the models nor any deep association with the movie world of any country.

Queried about an action movie series where the storyline is around transporting with the hero using a rival car, Mercedes Benz India officials said the car brand used in the movies have changed and so there may not be any long-term benefit for a luxury car brand.

However, officials said Mercedes Benz was associated with Jurassic Park movie.