Mercedes-Benz's 14th outlet in 2014 and the fourth in Tamil Nadu was inaugurated at Madurai this morning.

“The network expansion is in line with our approach of being closer to customers,” Eberhard Kern, Managing Director and CEO, Mercedes-Benz India said.

Speaking to this correspondent over phone after inaugurating the facility, he said that the company is bullish on India market. “2014 has by far been the best selling year for us. We have sold 10,000 cars till date this year compared to 9003 cars in 2013 and 7000 plus the year before last. We have been growing by 50 per cent YoY over the last three years.”

The company has established a dealership network of 68 outlets in India across 37 cities.

Sundaram Motors' has taken up the dealership for Mercedes-Benz in Madurai. The facility located at South Veli Street in Madurai is the dealer's third outlet in South India.

To a query on the luxury car market, Mr Kern said that the company enjoyed the patronage of over 65,000 customers in India. “The first high end luxury segment car (E63 AMG) was sold in Coimbatore,” he added.

The company has launched 10 products this year starting with its flagship model S-Class in January 2014.

Stating that Delhi and Mumbai accounted for 45 per cent of the company's business, he quickly added “Tamil Nadu is no less. The state accounts for 8 per cent of our business.”

The company has invested about Rs 850 cr in its production facility located at Chakan near Pune.

“The annual production capacity is 20,000 units, in line with our future plan” Kern said.

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