Mercedes-Benz India MD & CEO, Eberhard Kern unveiling the new Mercedes-Benz G63 AMG in Mumbai on Tuesday

MUMBAI Mercedes-Benz India on Tuesday launched its premium sports utility vehicle, G63 AMG, to be followed by three more launches this calendar. The all-terrain SUV, priced at Rs1.46 crore (ex-showroom Mumbai), comes with a 5.5-litre supercharged V8 petrol engine and can speed to 100 km per hour in less than 5.5 seconds. 

Mercedes-Benz India, which now trails rivals BMW andAudi in sales, plans to aggressively expand its reach and launch new vehicles to raise its market share in India's growing luxury car market. 

"This year, we have decided to be on the offensive, what we call the Mercedes-Benz offensive," Eberhard Kern, MD & CEO of Mercedes-Benz India, said. "We will be strengthening our dealer network and launching new models. In addition, we will also be concentrating on the cost of ownership," he said. 

The company, however, said it is not looking to offer discounts to increase sales. 

Mercedes, which has invested more than Rs550 crore through the dealers, plans to add six new outlets in the country this year, the company said in a statement. Its new launches will include the diesel version of its premium BClass hatchback. 

Mercedes-Benz, which pioneered the luxury car industry in India by starting its operations in 1994, sold 7,138 cars to its dealers last year, while market leader BMW sold 9,375 cars and Audi finished a close second with sales of 9,003 cars in the country. 

The G-Class is Mercedes-Benz's longest-serving vehicle in series production. This is its 34th year. The SUV will replace G55 AMG launched two years ago. The new SUV features in Hollywood action film A Good Day to Die Hard being released on Friday. 

Mercedes-Benz has also expressed hope that India will ease taxation on luxury vehicles this year. "We are hopeful of relaxation in taxes and don't expect they will go further up. Taxes here are already much higher than many other countries," Kern said. 

Mercedes-Benz India locally manufactures its flagship sedans the C-Class, the E-Class and the S-Class sedan in its plant in Chakan BSE 0.00 % near Pune. Built with an investment of more than Rs 600 crore, the plant has a technologically advanced paint shop capable of water-based painting. India will also be among the first set of markets where Mercedes-Benz will start assembling the new M-Class.