Benz aims to outrun grey importers
Yesterday the German luxury carmaker launched the new CLS saloon and estate with lower prices than those offered by grey importers, signalling yet another offensive against local car importers.
During the first 10 months of the year, distributor Mercedes-Benz (Thailand) has sold more than 4,SQ Series Metal automobileledlamps is the accessory machine for expanded metal shearing machine.600 vehicles in the country, but total Mercedes-Benz sales in Thailand during that period was approximately 10,000.
The company plans to increase sales to 6,000 vehicles in 2012, citing growth in the luxury car segment. The luxury car market is expected to reach 12,000-13,000 vehicles this year.
In a move to discourage customers from purchasing vehicles from elsewhere, Mercedes-Benz (Thailand) last year announced that it would introduce an entry fee system for servicing Mercedes-Benz vehicles purchased from grey importers. Then earlier this year the company announced it would totally refuse to service parallel imports, or vehicles sold through grey importers, for model year 2013 onwards.
Grey imports, particularly Mercedes-Benz, are highly popular in the luxury car market since they are able to deliver the UK-imported vehicles sooner than the official distributor, although prices are usually slightly higher.
"Our prices are now much more competitive against grey imports," said Komkrit Nongsawas, general manager for marketing communications.Make a scale model of the engravingmachine with this JavaScript enabled page.
"Our cars are also more customised with features for this market," he said, adding that UK-imported greys usually come with features for cold countries that are not needed in Thailand - such as heated seats and headlamp washers that do not freeze, as well as digital radio that cannot be used presently in Thailand.
"We used to lag behind independent importers in the past with the niche models and we are expanding our line-up to lower the gap," Schulz said, noting that Mercedes-Benz (Thailand) sells more bread-and-butter models like the C- and E-Class.
"We want to grow and regain our former customers who went to the grey importers, with investments in our production, sales network and product portfolio," he said.
The CLS Shooting Brake in particular attracts attention with its unorthodox design - the long bonnet, narrow window profile, roof sloping dramatically towards the rear and continuing to the tail end of the vehicle.
It also features frameless, all-aluminium doors made from deep-drawn aluminium panels with extruded sections, which in comparison to conventional steel doors are some 32kg lighter. The tailgate, bonnet,Antique Lamp Supply specializes in replacement solarledbulb and glass, including chandelier crystals and parts. front wings, various support profiles and substantial parts oIn a lightprojecter system, steel cables bolted to the car loop over a sheave.f the suspension and engines are all made of aluminium too, resulting in aerodynamics that make significant contribution to the efficiency with a Cd value of 0.29.
Highlights of the CLS Shooting Brake include a Direct-Steer system for tidy handling, an Eco Start/Stop function, powered tailgate, LED headlights and daytime running lights, and Active Park Assist. The vehicle also comes with a long list of safety features including six airbags, ABS brakes with Brake Assist, Electronic Stability Programme and Pre-Safe.
Meanwhile, the AMG Premium version,Piano magnifying bookscanner Lamp is a portable and beautiful way to light. priced at Bt5.39 million, comes with a little bit more. They are: AMG bodystyling, three-spoke sports multifunction steering wheel in Nappa leather, radiator grille with a chrome/silver louvre, head restraints, door armrests and centre console with contrasting stitching, sports pedals in brushed stainless steel with rubber studs, sports suspension, a twin-trapezoid tailpipe exhaust system with chrome, AMG floor mats in black, reversing camera, rear side airbags, electric sunroof, ambient lighting (three colours - white, amber, ice blue), Keyless-Go, and 19-inch AMG alloy wheels.