The minister's interactions extended to various members of Mercedes-Benz's management board, including Dr. Jörg Berger and other key figures. This substantial investment is anticipated to boost the prospects of the Shiv Sena-BJP-NCP government leading up to the state assembly elections, countering opposition claims that Maharashtra is losing significant projects to states like Gujarat.

Moreover, Samant emphasised the delegation's discussions with German officials on enhancing skilled labour capabilities, particularly bridging the gap in technical expertise. Maharashtra aims to support Baden-Württemberg, a German state, in fulfilling its workforce requirements. Plans also include facilitating Maharashtra's workers with necessary technical skills and a basic proficiency in the German language, aligning them with employment opportunities in German enterprises. Samant's delegation also met with Winfried Kretschmann, Minister-President of Baden-Wittenberg, alongside other ministers to strengthen these collaborative efforts.

In April, Mercedes-Benz reported that one out of every four cars sold in India during the financial year 2023-24 was a top-end model, priced above ₹1.5 crore. This surge in sales of luxury vehicles was significantly influenced by the company's financial services division, Mercedes-Benz Financial Services India. "One of the catalysts is our financial services arm, Mercedes Benz Financial Services. Today their portfolio stands at around ₹8,000 crore. One in two Mercedes-Benz cars is financed by MBFS," stated Santosh Iyer, managing director and CEO of Mercedes-Benz India.

Mercedes-Benz achieved its highest-ever sales in India during the March quarter and is set to introduce nine new models in 2024. This lineup will include three battery electric vehicles and four new top-end vehicles (TEVs).

In Q1 2024, Mercedes-Benz's battery electric vehicle (BEV) portfolio experienced a 130% year-on-year (YoY) growth, driven largely by the strong reception of the EQE SUV. To further expand its electric offerings, Mercedes-Benz plans to introduce three new BEVs in the remaining quarter of 2024, effectively doubling its BEV lineup to six models by the year's end.

Uday Samant

Mercedes-Benz to invest ₹3,000 cr in Maharashtra: Minister Uday Samant