Latest Car News in India

Small Car ‘Smart’ from Mercedes Benz may come after 2014

Sources have revealed that the leading German luxury auto-manufacturer, Mercedes Benz is looking forward to bring in the small car brand 'Smart' in the Indian market and for this it might take help from its global partners, Renault-Nissan to cater the compact cars in India.

Aforetime, the car maker carried out with a feasibility study to introduce the Smart featured car in the movie “The Da Vinci Code” on the domestic shores that includes both of its versions, i.e. the 2-door Smart Fortwo and the 4-door Smart Forfour.

The company might intend to launch the Smart brand after 2014, if they find the study quite inspiring. Chairman, Daimler AG (the parent company of Mercedes Benz), Dr Dieter Zetsche  stated that for Indian auto-market, they will have to make the strategies logically for the Smart brand, as there is big volume of small cars transaction.

Smart products could be slated in the price tag range of 12-15 lakh rupees. The company sells the Smart brand cars at its most affordable price tag and also they position it below the pricing of its entry level premium car, the ‘A Class’, across the globe.

The official stated that India is a big hub for automobiles and they are currently planning to introduce products favorable for the market. He also commented that the Smart cars would be developed in a joint venture with Renault-Nissan, and Mercedes Benz might intend source engine and components from Renault Nissan facility in Chennai.

The Daimler AG official also affirmed that the company could have developed the engine on its own, but even its alliance partner was looking forward to develop a compact engine, therefore both of them initiated to work as a partner in order to low-down the cost of production that could be beneficial for both the Indian and the global markets.