AMG is an important brand for Mercedes in India. In fact, during the global slowdown of four-wheeler sales, it was the AMG brand in India that bucked that trend and actually grew 54 per-cent year-on-year. This is also because the AMG lineup in India is very expansive with eight models currently in the portfolio, ranging from the AMG C 63 Coupe, going all the way to the mighty AMG GT R Coupe. This range also means more choices for buyers and allows AMGs to get better sales compared to its rivals. Owing to this demand, Mercedes will start assembling AMG models at its Chakan plant, starting with the AMG GLC 43 Coupe.
The GLC 43 will be the first of many other AMGs that will get assembled right here in India. This will not only help speed up deliveries, but it will also allow for more units to be offered in India and it will allow Mercedes-Benz India to get even more AMGs to the country, giving buyers even more options. Pricing will be another benefit post localisation, with ex-showroom prices for the localised AMG GLC 43 Coupe expected to start at approximately Rs 80 lakh, compared to an estimated price of Rs 1 crore had Mercedes brought in the new GLC 43 Coupe as a CBU.
Mercedes has already been bringing in AMGs to India thick and fast. It brought in the new G 63 shortly after its global debut and we also recently received the updated AMG GT R and the new GLE 53 Coupe. We’ll also soon be getting the A 35, which will be the most affordable go-faster Mercedes on offer in the country. The A 35 will likely be assembled in India too, as will other ‘mass market’ AMG cars. It is unlikely that the full fat 63 cars will be manufactured here just yet. The CKD AMGs should help more buyers access the brand, which will help improve sales even further and possibly even force rivals to bring in their own go-faster models at better prices.