In 2022, the German luxury brand Mercedes-Benz recorded record sales in India. The company sold 15,822 cars--a 41% increase over the previous year's figures of 11,242 cars. As a result, Mercedes remained the top luxury car seller in India for the eighth consecutive year.
When Mercedes announced in October 2022 that it had sold 11,469 cars in the first three quarters, sales figures had already indicated that the company would sell more cars in India in January-September 2022 than it did in all of 2021 (11242).
Before the pandemic, Mercedes sales in India reached a new high in 2018. Annual sales have reached the level of 15,000. Unfortunately, India's car market has experienced sharp declines during the pandemic, and Mercedes is no exception. In 2020, it will sell fewer than 8,000 cars a year -- less than half its annual sales in 2013. Sales in 2022 have fully recovered and surpassed pre-pandemic levels; now, the company estimates it can sell nearly 16,000 vehicles or more annually.
At the same time, Mercedes has also increased its market share in India's luxury car market. In 2022, about 35,000 units were sold in India's luxury car market, with Mercedes taking 45.21 percent of the market (nearly 50%)—this is also one of the highest levels since Mercedes-Benz entered India in 1994.
Mercedes-Benz Sales Figures & Market Share in India (2008-2022, units)
Year
Indian Luxury Car Market
Mercedes-Benz
Market Share
2022
35,000
15,822
45.21%
2021
27,000
11,242
41.64%
2020
19,681
7,983
40.56%
2019
35,274
13,786
39.08%
2018
40,788
15,538
38,09%
2017
38,989
15,330
39.32%
2016
33,296
13,231
39.74%
2015
36,207
13,502
37.29%
2014
31,912
10,201
31.97%
2013
30,166
9,003
29.84%
2012
28,438
6,840
24.05%
2011
24,300
7,430
30.58%
2010
15,896
5,881
36.70%
2009
8,755
3,427
39.14%
2008
7,672
3,625
47.25%
Total
413,374
152,841
36.97%
The global car market will face a tough year in 2022. The Indian market is no exception. A shortage of parts and the effects of the pandemic have taken their toll on the auto industry. However, India's luxury car market has greatly recovered (the total market volume was approximately 35,000, up 29.63% from 27,000 in 2021). Mercedes is more popular than other luxury car brands in India.
Mercedes launched a series of new products in India in 2022. These included the EQS flagship, which was assembled locally in India. The long wheelbase E-class is the company's best-selling model in India. The second is the GLC SUV. Sales of C-Class, GLA, GLC, GLE, and GLS SUVs also continue to grow. Prices for these models start at 7,250,000 Indian rupees (about 87,419.38 USD), and for GLC models at 6,200,000 Indian rupees (about 74,758.65 USD).
The core luxury models, the E-Class, GLC Class, C Class, and EQB, accounted for 62% of total sales. Maybach, AMG, S-class, and EQS EV made up 22%. The remaining 16% was split between Class A and GLA vehicles.
Mercedes also said it was confident of sales in India in 2023. It will launch 10 new models this year. The AMG E 53 4Matic+ convertible was first launched in India in the third quarter of 2023. The Mercedes GLC will also be launched there in the third quarter of 2023.