Mercedes-Benz India reported a 60% increase in battery electric vehicle (BEV) sales in the first half of 2024, reaching 5% of its total sales, up from 2.5% last year. On Monday, the company launched the EQA 250+ at ₹66 lakh, offering a range of 497-560 km per charge.
They also introduced an updated version of the EQB 350 (5-seater) priced at ₹77.5 lakh and started bookings for the upcoming electric G-Wagon, set to launch later this year. With two more BEVs, the G-Wagon electric and EQS SUV Maybach, planned for release in the second half, Mercedes will have six electric models in India.
To boost EV sales, Mercedes is offering a 67% assured buyback value after four years. The EQA 250+ can be bought with an EMI of ₹68,000 for four years, with a 20% down payment. Mercedes claims the total savings compared to a traditional car could be around ₹240,000 over four years, assuming 2000 km driven per month.
Mercedes-Benz India CEO Santosh Iyer said they have achieved 30% localization in their BEV production in India. They also produce EVs in Thailand and Malaysia. Mercedes was the first luxury car brand to launch an EV in India in 2019.
In the first half of 2024, Mercedes delivered 9,262 cars in India, a 9% increase from last year. SUVs made up 55% of sales, and top-end vehicles (priced above ₹1 crore) accounted for 25%. The Maybach lineup grew by 108%. Iyer noted high demand for the Maybach, with waiting times of 3-12 months.
