“Our presence in the commercial vehicles segment now widens with the introduction of Mercedes-Benz buses. The coaches stand for the latest and best technology, design, comfort, reliability and performance,” Mercedes-Benz India Managing Director & CEO Wilfried Aulbur, told reporters on the occasion of launch of the bus at its Pimpri plant.

The luxury bus segment would grow rapidly in the country and the company was confident of having a good presence in the segment, he said. We are confident of capturing a significant market share in this segment in the country, he added.

Body building

The company has tied-up with Sutlej Motors for building the body of the buses. The body of the bus would be built by Sutlej Motors at Jalandhar and the bus would be assembled at our Pimpri plant and later at Chakan which would be officially inaugurated during February or March, next year, he said.

The chassis of the bus would be imported from the company’s Brazil plant and other components would be procured from various parts of the world, he added.

Currently, we would be procuring the auto components of the buses from others parts of the world but as and when the volume increases we may localise the components, he said.

Seating capacity

The company has appointed three dealers in Mumbai, Pune and Bangalore and may increase it to 10 by 2009
The cost of the bus would be about Rs 80 lakh and it would have a seating capacity of standard 45 seats which can be modified, he said. Worldwide, Mercedes has a 17 per cent market share in the luxury bus segment, he said.