Mercedes offerings turn up the heat

New models add to lineup to assure strong growth

The summer heat might have been dispersed, but at the Chengdu Motor Show that opened on Friday, Mercedes-Benz showed no sign it plans to calm down this year's product offensive.

With 36 models on stage from its four brands - Mercedes-Benz, Mercedes-Maybach, Mercedes-AMG and smart - the premium German automaker was out in full force, including showing two heavyweight new models - the Mercedes-Maybach S 500 4MATIC and the All New GLE Sport SUV.

"There is a theory that China's economy may not grow as fast as previous years, but I believe that direction is more important than speed," said Nicholas Speeks, president and CEO, Beijing Mercedes-Benz Sales Services, at a press conference.

"It's a bit like here in Chengdu - even when the hot pot is 'way lah', it is still pretty hot," he added. "Just like China - even when growth is moderate, it is still strong."

China sales have shown significant growth this year for the Stuttgart-based brand.

"From January through August of this year, Mercedes-Benz passenger car sales in China exceeded 220,000 units, with an increase of 30 percent year-on-year, maintaining double-digit growth," said Speeks.

"While continuously introducing attractive products such as the GLE Sport SUV, we are openly delivering on our commitment to customers by providing them with customer services which offer both transparency and more value for their money," he said.

One day before the show, four diverse models of the GLE Sport SUV were unveiled - the Mercedes-Benz GLE 320 4MATIC Sport SUV, GLE 400 4MATIC Sport SUV, GLE 450 AMG 4MATIC Sport SUV, and the Mercedes-AMG GLE 63 4MATIC Sport SUV, priced from 868,000 yuan ($136,555) to 1,928,000 yuan.

The GLE Sport Suv is one of the first that is equipped 9G-TRONIC transmission in China market and it also offers customers superb Dynamic Select with 5 driving modes.

"The GLE Sport SUV represents the perfect fusion of the avant-garde design of a coupe with the athleticism of an SUV," said Duan Jianjun, executive vice-president at BMBS, responsible for sales and marketing.

"It features both the sporty performance of a coupe and the ruggedness of an SUV in complex road conditions."

Representing the Mercedes-Maybach sub-brand at the Chengdu Motor Show was the exclusive Mercedes-Maybach S 500 4MATIC. Priced at 2,198,000 yuan, this model follows the launch of the Mercedes-Maybach S 600 and S 400 4MATIC models earlier this year and, like the previous models, combines the cutting-edge technology of the Mercedes-Benz S-class with the exclusivity of the Maybach sub-brand.

The car continues the exclusivity and charm of the Mercedes-Maybach S-Class, and provides another exclusive experience through more extensive appointments and cutting-edge technologies.

"The All New Mercedes-Maybach S 500 4MATIC features a wealth of appointments and state-of-the-art technologies to provide China's contemporary gentlemen with an ultimate new choice," Duan added. "2015 is another year of strong product offensive for Mercedes-Benz, supported by the brand campaign further interpreting 'The best or nothing' for the Chinese audience."

This year also marks the fifth anniversary of the Mercedes-Benz Star Fund. Corporate social responsibility is an important part of the Mercedes-Benz brand and working with dealer partners to create a CSR platform is at the core of the Mercedes-Benz Star Fund.

"Dealers are Mercedes-Benz's brand ambassadors in China, so establishing long-term win-win partnerships with them is the cornerstone for our good sales here," said Li Hongpeng, senior executive v ice-president at BMBS.

"At the fifth anniversary of the Star Fund, we will make our charity platform even more innovative and inclusive, pooling the forces of our dealer partners and the public to uphold the principles of harmony and achievement, gaining mutual trust and common prosperity by taking action for a better future."

"We are satisfied with the current situation in China," Speeks said. "But we also know that there is still a long road ahead, which requires us to continue strengthening all aspects of our work to provide consumers with the best customer experience and maintain happy and cooperative relations with our dealer partners."

duxiaoying1@chinadaily.com.cn

(China Daily 09/07/2015 page15)