• Mercedes India’s H1 sales down year-on-year by 55 percent
• Over half of all Mercedes’ India sales in June came from SUVs
• New-gen GLS made up 22 percent of Mercedes India’s June sales

Mercedes-Benz India has just released sales figures for the first-half of 2020. In a six-month period marred by the COVID-19 outbreak and ensuing nationwide lockdown, Mercedes-Benz India managed to sell 2,948 vehicles. 

While that figure is down 55 percent year-on-year (6,561 vehicles sold in H1 2019), it’s worth noting that Mercedes exhausted its BS4 vehicle stocks well in advance of the April 1 deadline (which reflected in its sales in Q1 2020), and the company has witnessed an encouraging month-on-month recovery after a calamitous April, which saw 0 cars being sold.

While the C-class, E-class and GLC remain the chief volume drivers for Mercedes-Benz in India, the SUV range is also making its presence felt. In the month of June, 57 percent of Mercedes’ India sales came from its SUVs, and in what is an encouraging sign, the all-new GLS – launched last month at Rs 99.90 lakh – is off to a strong start as well, making up 22 percent of Mercedes-Benz India’s June sales.

A direct impact of the nationwide lockdown shows in the number of inquiries Mercedes-Benz India received online. The carmaker launched its digital car buying ‘Shop’ a few months ago, and in Q2 (Apr-May-Jun), Mercedes-Benz India received 8,000 leads online, which made up between 10 to 12 percent of total sales.

Mercedes-Benz India is hopeful of seeing sales numbers rise towards the end of the year, as it has lined up a couple of volume-driving models for launch in the second-half of 2020. Set to arrive in the third quarter is the all-new A-class Limousine (which will replace the CLA) and following the sedan will be the second-gen GLA towards the end of the year. Also due for launch in the coming weeks is the all-electric EQC SUV, which is set to become the first full battery-electric vehicle from a luxury carmaker in India.

BMW India, which was just 21 units away from matching Mercedes-Benz India’s sales figures for the first quarter, is yet to reveal sales figures for the first-half of 2020.

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