Mercedes makes 50K cars in India; launches C Grand Edition

German auto giant, Mercedes-Benz, made good progress in the calender year 2013. Its annual sales rose by an impressive 32 %, taking it to second place in the luxury segment behind Audi. The good times appear to be continuing for the company in 2014 as well. It launched the sixth and latest incarnation of its flagship sedan, the S-Class to a tremendous response earlier this month and now, in its 20th year in India, Mercedes-Benz has become the first luxury car manufacturer to produce 50,000 cars in the country. To celebrate this milestone, the company has rolled out a Grand Edition of its entry level sedan, the C-Class.

The Grand Edition can be distinguished from the regular C-Class by the cosmetic changes it has received. The exterior of the car sports an AMG body kit with front and rear aprons and sill panels, Grand Edition badges on the wings, a radiator grille with an integrated Mercedes-Benz star and chromed tailpipes. The car rides on 17-inch, 5-spoke alloy wheels with black AMG hub caps. A tinted, panoramic sunroof has also been provided. Other equipment includes bi-xenon headlamps with multiple functions.

The interior of the Grand Edition features sun visors with illuminated mirrors, a rear view mirror with auto dimming function and Mercedes-Benz lettering on the front door sills. The in-car infotainment system now comes with integrated satellite navigation.

The Grand Edition is is available in two variants, the C220 CDI and the C200. The diesel power plant of the C220 CDI is a 2143 cc, 4-cylinder motor, which produces 170 hp and 400 Nm of torque. The C200 has a 1796 cc, 4-cylinder, petrol unit, developing 186 hp and 285 Nm of torque.

The C220 CDI and C200 Grand Edition variants are priced at Rs. 39.16 lakh and Rs. 36.81 lakh (ex-showroom, Pune) respectively.

High points of the Mercedes-Benz plant, Chakan:

• Spread across 100 acres
• Annual Production capacity of 10,000 units
• Production of 20,000 cars completed in April 2008
• Production of 30,000 cars completed in December 2011
• Production of 50,000 cars completed in January 2014
• Only facility to assemble the ML-Class and GL-Class outside US