Mercedes-Benz records sales of 10,201 units in India in 2014

Mercedes-Benz records sales of 10,201 units in India in 2014

Amid a challenging year for the auto industry, Mercedes-Benz India has ended 2014 with its strongest ever annual retail sales of over 10,000 units.

The company recorded 13 per cent growth in its total sales at 10,201 units in 2014 when compared with 9,003 units in 2013.

This is the second year in a row that the three-pointed star brand has recorded a double-digit growth in its sales in India.

Merc is the second luxury brand to achieve annual sales of over 10,000 units in the domestic market. Its German rival Audi was the first brand to achieve that, and it sold little over 10,000 units in 2013. Mercedes said the launch of ten new models and opening of 14 new dealer outlets, the highest ever in one single year, were key drivers for the strong volume growth during the calendar year.

“The ‘offensive’ strategy in 2013 and the ‘excellence’ strategy in 2014 helped us in gaining new customer base and entry into new markets,” Mercedes-Benz India Managing Director and CEO Eberhard Kern had told The Hindu.

“The Year 2014 has been the most successful year of Mercedes-Benz in India so far, and the ‘Year of Excellence’ saw us launching 10 new products, which created a new excitement in the luxury car market. We not only fascinated our existing customers, but were able to win new younger customer base with the launch of new generation models like GLA-Class, CLA 45 AMG and GLA 45 AMG,” he added.

The company said it had the most refreshed and comprehensive product portfolio for any luxury car maker in India. “We have an attractive product now for every segment,” said Mr. Kern adding, “The E-Class remains Mercedes-Benz’s trusted volume driver and is the highest selling luxury sedan in the country today.”

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Unknown 03:48  No comment

HP Launched HP Stream 8 tablet with Windows 8.1 at Rs 16990 and its specifications

HP Launched HP Stream 8 tablet with Windows 8.1 at Rs 16990

After launching in the US last September, HP brings its newest Stream 8 tablet running Windows 8.1 to the Indian market for Rs 16,990.

Sporting an 8-inch HD IPS display with 1280×800 pixels resolution, it comes powered by a 1.8GHz quad-core Intel Atom Z3735G processor coupled with 1GB of DDR3 RAM. On the strage front, it gets 32GB of internal storage that is expandable up to 32GB via microSD card.

It also features 5MP rear and 2MP front-facing cameras. The tablet measures 209x124x8.9mm and weighs 388 grams. The device runs Windows 8.1 OS.

The connectivity options include Wi-Fi, 3G, Bluetooth, GPS and A-GPS, GLONASS and microUSB. You will also find support for sensors like accelerometer, G-sensor, GPS and SAR. A 4000 mAh battery completes the package.

Late last year, HP along with designer Michael Bastian had launched its new smartwatch, available exclusively on Gilt. The fashionable smartwatch was retailing at $349 that is approximately Rs 21,400 for the silver model.  On the other hand, the limited edition model was made available for $649 that translates to about Rs 39,900. Only 300 units of the limited edition variant were made available.

  HP Stream 8 specifications:

 

• Windows 8.1 OS
• 5MP auto focus camera w/o flash and 2MP webcam
• 8-inch 1280 x 800p anti-glare IPS screen
• 1.8GHz Intel Atom Z3735G quad core processor
• Intel HD Graphics muscle
• 1GB RAM, 32GB memory aboard
• microSD slot with support for 32GB expandability
• Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0, GPS and 3G (through SIM card slot)
• 4000mAh battery
• 124 x 209 x 8.9 millimeters

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Honda Cars hikes vehicle prices by up to Rs 60,000

Honda Cars hikes vehicle prices by up to Rs 60,000  

Honda Cars India today increased prices of its vehicles by up to Rs 60,000 following the expiry of reduced excise duty concessions and also to offset rising input costs.   The company has raised the prices of its entry level car Brio in the range of Rs 15,000 to Rs 18,000 and it will now cost between Rs 4.21 lakh and Rs 6.30 lakh (all prices ex- showroom Delhi). Prices of compact sedan Amaze have been hiked in the range of 19,000 to Rs 26,000 and it will now be available for Rs 5.18 lakh to Rs 7.78 lakh. The prices of petrol version of the compact sedan have been increased in the range of Rs 19,000-Rs 23,000 while diesel powered models would get expensive by Rs 23,000- Rs 26,000, the company said.

Honda's flagship mid-sized sedan City will be dearer by up to Rs 48,000. The prices of petrol variants of the car have gone up by Rs 33,000 to Rs 46,000, while the diesel variants have become expensive in the range of Rs 37,000 to Rs 48,000. The model is now priced between Rs 7.53 lakh and Rs 11.53 lakh. The company has also hiked the price of its premium sports utility vehicle CR-V by 60,000 and will now be available between Rs 20.85 lakh and Rs 24.96 lakh. An official of Honda Cars India said the company is still working on the quantum of price hike for its multi purpose vehicle Mobilio. The move follows the government not extending excise duty concessions given to the auto industry and consumer durables sectors after the expiry on December 31, 2014. The government had extended the excise duty concessions by 6 months in June continuing the previous UPA government's decision to cut excise duty on cars, SUVs, two-wheelers and consumer durables in the interim Budget in February, 2014. The excise duty on small cars, scooters, motorcycles and commercial vehicles was reduced to 8 percent from 12 percent previously. For SUVs, it was cut to 24 percent from 30 percent; for mid-sized cars,  to 20 percent from 24 percent and to 24 percent for large cars, from 27 percent. In December, Maruti Suzuki India said it would hike prices of its models in the range of 2-4 percent from this month, while Tata Motors and Mahindra and Mahindra had also announced plans to increase prices in the range of 1-2 percent citing higher input costs. German luxury car maker BMW also said it would raise product prices in India by up to 5 percent with effect from the first week of January. General Motors India had also announced a price hike by up to Rs 20,000 from January in order to partially offset rising input costs.

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